HC Deb 04 July 1955 vol 543 cc766-7
46. Mr. Willey

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much longer he intends to continue the present arrangements for marketing home-produced eggs.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Harmar Nicholls)

A producers' marketing scheme is likely to be formally submitted shortly and my right hon. Friend does not anticipate making major changes in the present interim arrangements for the time being.

Mr. Willey

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Public Accounts Committee has once again stigmatised these arrangements as unsatisfactory? How much longer is his right hon. Friend to flout this Committee?

Mr. Nicholls

I do not think that is a fair description of the Report of the Public Accounts Committee. It said that the packer is placed in a relatively sheltered position and expressed the hope that the introduction of a permanent arrangement would soon be forthcoming. We are expecting the submission of the suggested arrangement shortly. Then action will be taken to make permanent arrangements.

Mr. Willey

Surely the hon. Gentleman agrees that the Public Accounts Committee said that it cannot regard as satisfactory a scheme in which virtually all the financial risks are run by the Exchequer? Why does he complain when I say that the Public Accounts Committee regards those arrangements as unsatisfactory?

Mr. Nicholls

The hon. Member knows perfectly well that half the eggs which go to the packing stations have to be treated as sales to a wholesaler on a normal commercial basis. On that part of the scheme the packers bear the same risks as other wholesalers.

Mr. Willey

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that somebody ought to speak up for the Public Accounts Committee and that repeatedly it has said that these arrangements are unsatisfactory and that they are unfair to the Exchequer? When is his right hon. Friend going to do something about it?

Mr. Nicholls

The hon. Member may be perfectly satisfied that my right hon. Friend will take full account of the Report of the Public Accounts Committee and, if need be, will stand up for it.