§ 33. Mr. de Freitasasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will introduce legislation to establish a marketing board for cereals.
§ Mr. SoamesPermissive legislation is already in being. Under the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1958, the initiative for seeking to establish such a board rests with the producers.
§ Mr. de FreitasIf the producers—that is to say, the farmers—and the consumers and the Treasury are all agreed about the advantages of this and if they come forward with a scheme, will the Minister set up a board, even if the millers do not like it?
§ Mr. SoamesIt is not a question of what somebody likes or does not like. There are well, known, processes and machinery for setting up a board, and that machinery must be operated. If such formal proposals were made, I should give them earnest consideration.
§ Mr. PriorIs my right hon. Friend aware that we shall be very nearly self-supporting in barley next year? Will he do his best to advertise that fact so that no merchant buys foreign barley this year for delivery next year?
§ Mr. SoamesIn view of the weather we had this autumn it is clear that, with the small amount of winter wheat able to be drilled, there will be a greater barley production, if there is a normal season next year, than there has been this year.