§ 51. Mr. Goochasked the Minister of Agriculture if, before approving any future schemes put forward by county councils for the constitution of smallholdings committees, he will ensure that an increased number of farmworkers are asked to serve on the committees.
Mr. T. WilliamsAll the smallholdings committees which have already been set up under the Agriculture Act, 1947, include persons competent to express the views of the agricultural worker. In considering any future arrangements for the constitution of smallholdings committees submitted to me for approval, I will certainly continue to give careful consideration to the numbers of farmworkers proposed to be appointed by the smallholdings authority concerned.
§ Mr. GoochDoes my right hon. Friend realise that these committees will be catering in the main for farmworkers, and does he consider that one or two farm-workers on a committee of 25 is adequate representation?
Mr. WilliamsAs my hon. Friend is aware, I have no power to lay down detailed constitutions for smallholdings committees. All that one can do, therefore, is to exercise what influence and persuasion I can with the smallholdings authorities, and so far at least two-thirds of the smallholdings committees that have been set up have two such representatives.