§ 17. Miss Burtonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of the 33 members of the Potato Marketing Board are Government appointees; and what are their names and qualifications.
Mr. AmoryMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I appoint four members to the Potato Marketing Board. With permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names and qualifications of the present members.
§ Miss BurtonThat completely evades the Question. Does the right hon. Gentleman consider that giving four names is too much at Question Time? Does he not agree that this producers' organisation—because that is what it is—gives all its attention to preventing falling prices, completely ignoring the interests of the 12 consumer? Would he say what are the qualifications of the four people, as asked in the Question?
Mr. AmoryIf the House will forgive me for the time it takes to give the information, the four members are: Sir Patrick Laird, K.B.E., C.B., F.R.S.E., Secretary of the Department of Agriculture for Scotland, 1934–53; Mr. E. P. Harries, C.B.E., formerly Secretary of the Organising Department of the Trades Union Congress; Mrs. M. Courtney, J.P., Chairman of the National Union of Townswomen's Guilds and a member of the British Council of the Young Women's Christian Association; and one vacancy which is to be filled.
§ Captain DuncanDoes not my right hon. Friend agree that this Board was set up in accordance with the Marketing Act, 1931, passed by the Labour Government?