89.
asked what are the aggregate amounts placed by their respective Governments at the disposal of their several Departments of Agriculture in France, Germany, the United States, Holland, and Belgium, respectively?
The amounts provided for the Departments of Agriculture in France, the United States, and Belgium, respectively in 1912, were as follows:—
| £ | |||
| France | … | … | 2,168,000 |
| United States | … | … | 4,618,000 |
| Belgium | … | … | 497,000 |
In Germany, so far as I have been able to ascertain, the total expenditure upon agriculture in the several States amounted to about £2,700,000 in 1910, the latest year for which the Board have information. In Holland, agriculture is combined with industry and commerce in one department; the amount voted for agriculture in 1912 was £258,000. I must add, however, that the functions of the Departments of Agriculture in the different countries vary so much that no useful comparison can be made.
Is it not the fact that the amount granted to our Department is about half that of the lowest the right hon. Gentleman has mentioned?
Yes, but I must also point out that many of the functions performed by the central department in others are performed in this country by the local authorities.