HC Deb 26 November 1947 vol 444 cc1989-90
63. Mr. Ronald Chamberlain

asked the Minister of Food the composition of the new Fruit and Vegetable (Marketing and Distribution) Organisation, and also whether Clause 4 of its terms of reference will enable it to advise in the matter of price control.

Mr. Strachey

The new Fruit and Vegetable Organisation consists of representatives of the Agricultural Departments and the Ministry of Food. My hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary of my Ministry, is Chairman of the Organisation. As I explained in the House on 19th November, in reply to a supplementary question by my hon. Friend the Member for Epping (Mrs. Manning), price control is a function of the Ministry of Food and not of this organisation.

Mr. Chamberlain

Does my right hon. Friend realise that the Parliamentary Secretary gave exactly the opposite answer on 3rd November, reported in col. 1324 in the OFFICIAL REPORT; and does he not realise that by this exclusion he is making elaborate regulations for the shadow and missing the substance?

Mr. Strachey

Price control must be dealt with by the Ministry of Food as such, and not by any separate organisation.