HC Deb 25 June 1934 vol 291 cc787-9
Mr. HOROBIN

(by private notice) asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state how soon the committee, which he appointed in April to consider the Hops Amending Scheme, is likely to Report?

Mr. ELLIOT

The committee has now successfully concluded its deliberations and the Brewers' Society and the Hops Marketing Board have agreed, inter alia, that a permanent joint committee of brewers and hop growers, together with impartial members, should be constituted to secure closer collaboration between the two bodies in regard to the marketing of home-grown hops. I hope, before the House is asked to consider the amendment to the Hops Scheme now on the Order Paper, to lay a White Paper containing a summary of the committee's recommendations. I should like to take this opportunity of thanking Sir John Chancellor and his colleagues for their very valuable work on this committee.

Mr. HOROBIN

While thanking my right hon. Friend, may I ask if he can give the House an assurance that, in view of the great importance of the issues involved, not only a summary but the text of the report will be in the hands of Members for a reasonable period—say at least a week—before the House is asked to pass this extremely important scheme, and possibly to set up a precedent?

Mr. ELLIOT

I do not think I could undertake to put the text of the report in the hands of Members. This was a report to me and not to the House. I will give as full a summary as possible, and I feel sure it will contain all the information which my hon. Friend desires. In regard to the time at which the hops scheme will come before the House, that is rather a matter for the Leader of the House.

Mr. T. WILLIAMS

As the suggested amendment to the hops scheme is likely to stand as a precedent for all agriculteural marketing schemes, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that Members should have full possession of the committee's report at least a week in advance of the day when they are called upon to discuss the proposition?

Mr. ELLIOT

The time-table is obviously a matter for the Leader of the House.

Mr. WILLIAMS

Will the amending hops scheme come to this House before it goes to another place, and will the maximum time possible be given to hon. Members to study the report?

Mr. ELLIOT

I am afraid I must not dogmatise about the course of business in another place.

Mr. HOROBIN

If the right hon. Gentleman, on further consideration, does not intend to publish the full text of the report, may I ask if he will give a definite assurance to the House that there are no outstanding matters of principle or objection which have been raised in the course of inquiry by the brewers or others; and can we at least be certain, if we are only to have a summary, that all the objections of principle are now satisfactorily disposed of?

Mr. ELLIOT

When the summary of the recommendations is laid, my hon. Friend will be able to see, and in the course of the Debate on the hops scheme he can press for further information on any point on which he thinks the report is not sufficiently clear.

Mr. WILLIAMS

Is there any minority report, and, if so, will it be made available to Members?

Mr. ELLIOT

Oh, no, Sir. This is a unanimous agreement.

Major Sir ARCHIBALD SINCLAIR

Surely there is no reason why we should not have the whole of the recommendations, even if we are only to have a summary of the remainder of the report?

Mr. ELLIOT

When I speak of a summary of the committee's recommendations, I mean a summary of the results of the committee's deliberations. If anything has been omitted, the proper time to raise that will be when the scheme is being discussed.

Mr. D. GRENFELL

How are we to know whether the summary is complete?

Mr. ELLIOT

Surely hon. Members will have to trust to my good faith. I hope it is not impossible to ask them to do that.