§ 34. Captain PETER MACDONALDasked the Minister of Agriculture if he can now make any statement with regard to the progress of re-organisation of the milk, potato, and pig industries of the Country?
§ 36. Brigadier-General CLIFTON BROWNasked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he has taken to set up a milk re-organisation committee; and whether he can yet give the names of any appointments to that Commission?
§ 40 and 41. Colonel RUGGLES-BRISEasked the Minister of Agriculture (1) if he can state the personnel of the Milk Re-organisation Commission and the terms of reference;
(2) if he can state the personnel of the Bacon Re-organisation Commission and the terms of reference?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI have constituted an Agricultural Marketing Re-organisation Commission for Milk. The duty of this Commission will be to prepare a scheme or schemes under the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1931, to be applicable in England and Wales for regulating the marketing of milk. I have directed that the Commission in the course of preparing a scheme as aforesaid shall:—
- (a) investigate the extent to which its operation could be facilitated by cooperation between the board administering it and any corresponding body in Scotland or Northern Ireland;
1241 - (b) investigate any other matter affecting its operation; and
- (c) make recommendations with respect to the matters investigated.
§ The composition of the Commission will be:—
§ Chairman:
- Sir Edward Grigg, K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., D.S.O., M.C.
§ Members:
- Professor A. W. Ashby, M.A.
- F. N. Blundell, Esq.
- A. E. Cutforth, Esq., C.B.E.
- Major-General Sir Philip Nash, K.C.M.G., C.B.
§ The Secretary of State for Scotland and I are about to appoint an Agricultural Marketing Reorganisation Commission for Pigs and Pig Products.
§ The duty of this Commission will be to prepare a scheme or schemes, under the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1931, to be applicable in Great Britain for regulating the marketing of pigs and any pig products. We shall direct that the Commission in the course of preparing a scheme as aforesaid shall
- (a) investigate the extent to which its operation could be facilitated by co-operation between the board administering it and any corresponding body in Northern Ireland;
- (b) investigate the manner in which its operation could be facilitated by the quantitive regulation of imports of pigs and bacon and by similar or different measures affecting other pig products;
- (c) investigate the manner in which such regulation could best be undertaken in the public interest;
- (d) investigate any other matter affecting the operation of any such scheme; and
- (e) make recommendations with respect to the matters investigated.
§ The composition of the Commission will be:—
§ Chairman:
- Colonel The Right Hon. G. R. Lane Fox, P.C., J.P., D.L.
§ Members:
- H. G. Howitt, Esq.,
- Lieut.-Colonel Sir Wyndham Portal, Bart., M.V.O., D.S.O.,
- The Hon. Jasper Ridley,
§ It will be left to the discretion of the Commissions to decide in what manner and to what extent they obtain expert advice from the interests concerned.
§ I have not been asked by producers to appoint a Reorganisation Commission for potatoes and I understand that producers are themselves considering proposals for dealing with the marketing of this commodity.
§ I am contemplating the introduction of amending legislation to provide that, in certain circumstances, the cost incurred in preparing schemes whether by a Reorganisation Commission or by other persons shall be a charge upon a marketing board consequently set up.
§ Captain MACDONALDWhen is it anticipated that these commissions will start operations?
§ Sir J. GILMOURAlmost immediately.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONWill there be a reorganisation committee for milk, for Scotland?
§ Sir J. GILMOURNo, Sir. I understand that the position in Scotland is that a scheme is already in an advanced stage of preparation.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIn regard to the first-mentioned commission, will its terms of reference enable it to deal with milk products?
§ Sir J. GILMOURYes, Sir, certainly.
Brigadier-General BROWNDoes the right hon. Gentleman think there is any chance of this Milk Commission, when it is set up, being able to make any arrangements for next year's milk contracts, or whether the milk producers will have to look forward to making their own milk contracts under the same conditions as heretofore in September next for the year 1932–33?
§ Sir J. GILMOURIt is difficult to forecast the exact length of the inquiry, but I hope that there will be no delay.
§ Colonel RUGGLES-BRISECan the right hon. Gentleman say whether one or 1243 both of these commissions will have power to make direct application to the Tariff Advisory Committee?
§ Sir J. GILMOURNo, Sir. I do not think that they would work in that way.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIf a reorganisation committee for potatoes is appointed, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of having more than one Scottish member on it?