§ 41. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture why he informed the National Farmers' Union that it is his intention to hold a special farm prices review before making this announcement to the House of Commons.
Mr. AmoryThis House was informed of the decision as soon as practicable after it was made. In the meantime I saw no justification for withholding from the National Farmers' Union and farmers the Government's decision on a matter of great concern to them.
§ Mr. LewisWas not the real reason for the announcement the fact that the right hon. Gentleman knew that the National Farmers' Union was about to pass a unanimous vote of no confidence in the Government and the Ministry of Agriculture? Is it not true that he made the announcement with a view to getting the Union to withdraw the motion, which it eventually did?
Mr. AmoryNo, Sir. That was certainly not the reason. What the N.F.U. was going to do at the meeting was purely hypothetical, and I had no knowledge of it whatever. My one wish was to make the announcement as soon as possible after the Government had taken its decision.
Mr. T. WilliamsIs it not true that the announcement was made on the evening when a motion of no confidence in the Government had been debated and adjourned until it was known what the Chancellor of the Exchequer was going to do?
Mr. AmoryI do not think that I knew anything about it until I read it in the newspapers the next day.