§ 49. Mr. T. Williamsasked the Minister of Agriculture how many persons have been appointed to the Livestock Advisory Committee under the Livestock Act, 1937; how many marketing schemes have been prepared; and how many such schemes have been submitted to the Minister for his approval?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonAs regards the first part of the question, 35 representative members and four independent members have been appointed to the Livestock Advisory Committee. In addition, six further representative members, who are not members of the committee serve on one or other of the three sub-committees dealing respectively with matters relating to England, Scotland and Wales. As regards the second and third parts of the question, I assume that the hon. Member refers to Orders made under Part IV of the Livestock Industry Act, 1937. No Livestock Markets Orders under Section 15 of the Act have yet been prepared. Eleven Orders under Section 14 approving new or extended market premises have 862 been made by the Livestock Commission and approved by the appropriate Minister; and in 13 other cases the market owners have been notified that Orders will be made on completion of the premises in accordance with the approved plans.
§ Mr. WilliamsDoes the Minister expect that a committee of 39 members will ever produce a marketing scheme?
§ Mr. MorrisonThe Livestock Advisory Committee exists in an advisory capacity. The executive power is in a much smaller body, the Livestock Commission.
§ Mr. WilliamsBut as there are 39 members of this committee in an advisory capacity does the Minister expect that there will be such unanimity that they will ever make any recommendation at all?
§ Mr. MorrisonOh, yes, they have acted with unanimity on a number of important matters.