§ 41. Mr. de ROTHSCHILDasked the Minister of Agriculture the numbers of the salaried staffs of the Pig, Bacon, Milk, and Potato Marketing Boards, with the total salaries paid in each case?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Elliot)I regret that I have not the information desired by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. de ROTHSCHILDIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of these boards are administering public funds and carrying out the policy of the Government? 1199 That being so, is it not within the purview of the Minister of Agriculture and of this House to know these facts?
§ Mr. ELLIOTNo, Sir. Certainly not.
§ Sir P. HARRISWill the right hon. Gentleman take the trouble to find out these figures?
§ Mr. ELLIOTNo, Sir. It is quite wrong for me to communicate with these boards and ask for details of the salaries of their staffs.
§ Mr. JOHN WILMOTIs it not the case that these boards derive their funds as a result of Statutes passed by this House, and, in those circumstances, is it not proper for the right hon. Gentleman to ask for these particulars?
§ Mr. ELLIOTThe hon. Member is under an entire misapprehension. These boards operate under Statutes passed by this House, but if a return is to be called for of every company operating under Statutes passed by this House, the Table of the House would not be big enough to accommodate them.
§ Mr. de ROTHSCHILDAre not these boards administering public funds, and therefore are we not entitled to ask for these particulars?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI do not know of any case in which a board is administering public funds except the Milk Board, where a grant is given, and which is operated by a committee entirely on voluntary lines.
§ Mr. PALINGAre not these boards set up as the direct outcome of Government policy, and are we not entitled to know how many people are being employed?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEWould it not also be wise to ask how many employés there are in the trade unions which also distribute public funds?