§ 44. Mr. BLINDELLasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has considered the communications sent to him from local authorities desirous of establishing new cattle markets, involving the expenditure of large sums of public money, asking for his guidance with regard to such expenditure, in view of the provisions of the Government's Agricultural Marketing Bill; and can he make a general statement upon the matter for the guidance of the local authorities concerned?
§ Dr. ADDISONRepresentations, to which I gave careful consideration, have been made to me by one local authority who contemplated building a new market. I explained to that authority that if the Agricultural Marketing Bill becomes law, the initiative in the submission and administration of schemes will rest with the producers, and that it is, therefore, impossible to foretell the precise nature and effect of any schemes that may be submitted.
§ Mr. BLINDELLIs the Minister of Agriculture able to say, for the guidance of this particular local authority, that he has no idea of substituting any system of marketing for the system now in operation with regard to the sale of fat cattle?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe hon. Member is well aware that proposals as to marketing arrangements do not rest with me.
§ Mr. BLINDELLIn order to help this particular local authority, who are going to spend a large sum of money, surely the Minister can give them some advice as to whether it would be a waste of money—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a different subject.