§ 15. Mr. HANNONasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs when the operations of the Empire Marketing Board as at present constituted will terminate; and if he has yet decided upon the organisation which will undertake the continuance of the work performed by the board on behalf of British agriculture?
The SECRETARY of STATE for DOMINION AFFAIRS (Mr. J. H. Thomas)I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement on this matter which appeared in the Press on the 9th August, of which I am sending him a copy. The report of the recent Imperial Committee on Economic Consultation and Co-operation (Cmd. 4335) was accepted by all the Governments concerned at the end of July and steps were taken to carry its recommendations into effect. This involved the discontinuance of the Empire Marketing Board as such after the 30th September. As regards the latter part of the question, as indicated in the Press statement, certain of the services carried on by the Board are being continued, but it would be appropriate, I think, for any specific inquiries concerning the continuance of the work carried on by the board on behalf of agriculture in the United Kingdom to be addressed to the Ministers responsible.
§ Mr. HANNONWhile thanking my right hon. Friend, may I ask whether he realises that it is false economy to cease maintaining the activities of a great organisation of this quality, which was doing so valuable a work for the Empire and for agriculture in this country `I Does the right hon. Gentleman propose to put anything in its place?
Mr. THOMASNo words can adequately express the Government's appreciation of the work of the Empire Marketing Board. We clearly pointed out our views to the British Commonwealth as a whole—it was a Commonwealth institution—but they felt that they could not go on, and there was no alternative but to accept the recommendation; but we, His Majesty's Government in this country, are endeavouring to maintain as much of the work for the United Kingdom as we can.