HC Deb 27 March 1956 vol 550 cc2022-4
Mr. Amory

I beg to move, in page 4, line 24, at the end to insert: Provided that the Board shall not by virtue of this subsection be authorised or required to give advice to the Minister on matters relating to the performance by the British Sugar Corporation Limited of their functions in relation to the purchase of home-grown beet. We are never weary of seeking new ways of doing good and trying to meet the views of the Opposition when they seem to us to be good ones. Here is a case where there was really no difference between us in the Committee. It was put to us from the benches opposite—I cannot remember by which hon. Member—that it would be a pity if we in any way broke the direct relationship between the Government and the British Sugar Corporation. We agree with that, and so we have suggested inserting these words to make it quite clear that in matters relating to the production and purchase of homegrown beet it would be inappropriate for the Government to seek advice through the Sugar Board. I hope that the words which we have suggested will seem to all hon. Members to be an improvement.

Mr. Dye

I should like to thank the right hon. Gentleman for having accepted the suggestion which I made in Committee—

Mr. Amory

I am sorry. I remember now that it was the hon. Member for Norfolk, South-West (Mr. Dye) who raised this matter.

Mr. Dye

—namely, that I wanted to remove any doubt that could possibly exist in the wording of the Bill that would enable the Sugar Board to come between the Ministry and the British Sugar Corporation in the arrangements which already existed between them. I thought then that there was a danger that the Board could be used as an instrument to spy upon the activities of the British Sugar Corporation.

I am glad that the right hon. Gentleman has seen that, as the wording of the Clause stood, there was the possibility of that happening and that he wishes to remove that possibility. I thank him for it. I should like to say how much I appreciate what the right hon. Gentleman has done, and also the splendid work which the British Sugar Corporation has done in the past and is still doing in encouraging the development of the sugar-beet industry in this country for the benefit of agriculture and to be a more efficient industry.

Mr. Jeger

I wish to commend the Minister for accepting this Amendment which we on this side moved in Committee. I note that the meeting of the Committee took place immediately before Christmas. We then expressed Christmas wishes to the right hon. Gentleman, which were heartily reciprocated. It just shows how a little sweetness and light can penetrate to the Minister if he is given a long Recess in which to contemplate Amendments and then to have second thoughts about them and to agree with them.

Amendment agreed to.