CONTROL COMMITTEES. (Hansard, 26 September 1939)

§ 73. Mr. Cocks
asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the normal procedure that should be taken by a local authority in setting up a local food committee to ensure that the committee should be truly representative of consumers as well as of retailers?

§ Mr. W. S. Morrison
Food control committees are appointed by the local authority. The constitution of the committees in Great Britain is laid down in Article 2 of the Food Control Committees (Constitution) Order, 1939, Sub-section (3) of which provides that 10 of the 15 members shall be persons who in the opinion of the appointing authority are representative of all classes of persons within the area.

§ Mr. Cocks
In view of the necessity of preserving the spirit of national unity, does not the Minister feel that it is undesirable that members should be selected in an' case from only one political party?

§ Mr. Morrison
I think the best course is to leave the appointment of these committees in the hands of the local authorities who, under this proposal, in most cases would be the best judges of who are really representative of the people in their own area.

§ Mr. Herbert Morrison
Will not the right hon. Gentleman agree that, assuming that on the local authority there is more than one political party, it is wise in the interests of smooth working, that members of other parties should be appointed in proportion?

§ Mr. W. S. Morrison
I should imagine that a local authority would in fact wisely, in order to secure a minimum of friction on such an important committee, see that due representation is given to all relevant interests in the area, but I am sure the House will agree with me that this is a matter in which one must trust the local authorities to exercise discretion.

Mr. Alexander
Does that mean that the Minister intends to make no representations to local authorities?

§ Mr. Morrison
If a case is brought to my notice where there is any improper appointment of persons, I will gladly look into it and use what powers I have, which are limited, to see that the matter is put right. If the right hon. Gentleman cares to put down a question with regard to any particular local authority, I shall be glad to give him the answer which I have arrived at from my investigations.