HC Deb 24 February 1960 vol 618 cc427-8
Mr. Hare

I beg to move, in page 8, line 43, at the end to add: (6) The Council shall so exercise its powers under this section that a scheme shall be made and submitted before the end of the period specified in the foregoing subsection. In Standing Committee I promised to consider this point and I accepted in principle an Amendment moved by the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey) which had the effect of obliging the Council to make a charges scheme during the period of Government finance, that is, during the three years when it will receive Government assistance and, having done that, to submit such a scheme to the Minister. This proposed new subsection (6) fulfils my promise.

Perhaps I should explain that the subsection is set out in this way so as to leave unimpaired the Council's right to make and submit a charges scheme at all times. This would not limit it to producing one charges scheme during the period. When the initial period is over the Council might want to change the charges scheme which it has recommended, or indeed to make a new one altogether, and it will certainly want to do so if the organisation for publicity for home-grown produce should later be set up. The Council could do this under the original Clause, and this power is in no way affected by the new subsection which I am seeking to add. We had quite a short but clear discussion on this point in Committee, and I therefore do not wish to detain the House any further.

Mr. Willey

As the right hon. Gentleman said, we discussed this matter in Standing Committee and it is not necessary for me to say more than that I appreciate the action which he has taken and which I think meets our wishes. I think we have now got a satisfactory compromise.

Amendment agreed to.