§ 12. Mr. Wadeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the recent case of underpayment of vegetable and fruit growers and other horticulturists by commission salesmen, he will now implement the recommendations contained in the Runciman Report on this subject.
§ Mr. SoamesThe Runciman Committee's view was that most firms already submitted accurate and honest returns to growers and that the best safeguard against dishonesty would be a code of business conduct drawn up and enforced by the trade themselves. This possibility is at present being discussed within the trade. One of the recommended changes in the provisions of the Horticultural Produce (Sales on Commission) Act, 1926, has already been made.
§ Mr. WadeIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there have been some striking cases recently of underpayment of vegetable and fruit growers, some of which have come before the courts'? Is he aware that in the main it is the small growers who tend to suffer from underpayment? In view of this, would it not be desirable to implement the recommendations of the Runciman Committee, particularly the recommendation that Section 1 (4) of the Horticultural Produce (Sales on Commission) Act, 1926, should be amended?
§ Mr. SoamesA most important feature of the recommendations of the Runciman Committee was that a code of conduct should be drawn up. It may well be necessary for Ministers to refer these matters to the Horticultural Marketing Council, but it would not he appropriate to do so until deliberations by the wholesale trade have progressed further. I am not aware of a number of recent cases of deception and fraud. I know of one, which went to the courts, but I do not think that the practice is as widespread as the hon. Gentleman seems to think.