HC Deb 09 July 1953 vol 517 cc1468-9
27. Mr. Bullard

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will make a statement about progress with the consideration of a marketing scheme for homegrown threshed peas which has been before his Department for a long time.

Sir T. Dugdale

No Sir. This scheme is still under consideration by the Government.

Mr. Billiard

Is not the time taken for the consideration of this scheme rather long, especially in view of the fact that the scheme has to have the approval of the House and must be submitted to a poll of the producers, and the preliminaries are rather protracted?

Sir T. Dugdale

The preliminaries have taken a considerable time, but a number of important and difficult questions dealing with this scheme have to be resolved.

Mr. G. Brown

In view of the rough handling that the scheme has had at the inquiry and elsewhere, will the Minister make quite certain (a) that it is a marketing scheme if it comes forward and (b) that it is really worth putting forward?

Sir T. Dugdale

The right hon. Member's remarks will be taken note of.