§ 27. Mr. Collinsasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will now publish the report of the Commissioner, appointed under the Agricultural Market Acts, on the Substitutional Potato Marketing Scheme.
Mr. AmoryNo, Sir. As I said on 17th February in reply to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Middlesbrough, West (Mr. Simon) it has always 538 been the practice for reports of Commissioners appointed under the Agricultural Marketing Acts to be confidential.
§ Mr. CollinsDespite the Minister's answer, is he not aware that matters of considerable constitutional importance were raised at the public inquiry? Does he not think it advisable that we should know the Commissioner's reasons for any amendments which he may have suggested, and also the extent to which the Minister has accepted or rejected his advice?
Mr. AmoryI do not think that the present practice has worked at all badly, but in any case I do not think that I could possibly alter the practice retrospectively for a report which has been already made.
§ 28. Mr. Holtasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has yet received and considered the Commissioner's report on the public inquiry into the proposed Potato Marketing Scheme held in December last.
§ 31. Sir F. Medlicottasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will now make a statement on the result of the inquiry into the proposed Potato Marketing Scheme.
Mr. AmoryThe public inquiry ended on 12th January, and the Commissioner submitted his report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself on 23rd February. We are considering it and hope to announce our decisions shortly.
§ Mr. HoltCan the Minister confirm that, in spite of the fact that the House has not yet had an opportunity of discussing the matter, the board has already been set up and people appointed to the staff?