HC Deb 30 November 1950 vol 481 cc1314-5
47. Mr. Gooch

asked the Minister of Agriculture what workers' representation he proposes to give on the provisional tomato and cucumber marketing board; and if he will indicate the number of seats which will be allotted to the workers on the permanent board.

Mr. T. Williams

Invitations from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself to serve as members of the Tomato and Cucumber Marketing Board have been accepted by Mrs. E. A. Wills, Mr. Howard Cunningham, and Mr. R. L. Latimer and Mr. W. J. Shingfield. Their function will not be to represent any particular section of the community, but rather to leaven the specialised knowledge of the producer members with experience gained in other capacities.

Mr. Henderson Stewart

Would the Minister say which of the four persons nominated represent Scottish interests?

Mr. Williams

Mr. Howard Cunningham is managing director of Scottish Agricultural Industries and he is also a director of the Commercial Bank of Scotland.

Mr. Gooch

Would not the Minister give further consideration to the suggestion made to him several times that he should give worker and consumer representation on this Board?

Mr. Williams

If the hon. Member will take note of the names I have mentioned he will find that Mrs. E. A. Wills, a Member of this House from 1945 to 1950, is a director of the Co-operative Society, and that the last named, W. J. Shingfield, is a retired organiser of a workers' union.