asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he has yet received a report on the development of the agricultural advisory services from the two advisory consultants of the British National Advisory Services; and, if so, what it contains.

I have received this report. I have already indicated—when introducing the Estimate for my Department on 30th May, 1967—that it is my intention to publish it. In the meantime it would not be appropriate for me to give information about the contents of the report.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary say if publication of this report is an embarrassment to the Government and would he say if in fact part of the advice given in that report is that the advisory services be taken away completely from the Department of Agriculture?

The answer to the first part of the question is that publication of this report would not be an embarrassment to the Government. Further than this I do not propose to comment.

Is it a fact that it is recommended in the report that responsibility for the advisory services be taken away from the Department of Agriculture?

When the report is published, the Deputy will have ample opportunity to consider it.