§ 22. Mr. Darlingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will conduct a survey of wholesale fruit and vegetable markets in England and Wales with a view to preparing a national plan for a modern, efficient and economic marketing service.
§ 28. Mr. Peartasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the future of horticultural marketing.
§ Mr. SoamesThe whole problem of horticultural markets and marketing generally is a matter of prime importance to the industry. Under recent Government policy horticultural markets are generally the responsibility of local authorities and the responsibility for the improvement of the techniques of marketing is something which must be left primarily to the industry itself. Of course the Government is seized of the importance of the whole question and are giving thought to the matter, but I am not now in a position to make a statement.
§ Mr. PeartThat statement is very unsatisfactory. Is not the Minister aware that, in view of the coming dissolution of the Horticultural Marketing Council, there is urgent need to improve marketing in this sphere? Whether we go into the Common Market or not, we must 807 have improved marketing in horticulture, the responsibility far which must be with the Government. It is not sufficient simply to leave it to the industry to survey policy.
§ Mr. SoamesThe Horticultural Marketing Council was not set up to take over responsibility of the Government but to take on responsibility which the industry itself had. It was set up with the full intention of allowing the industry to improve its marketing arrangements. It had a three-year run; Parliament voted it money for three years. It was made clear at the time that if at the end of three years the industry decided to provide enough money to keep it going, it would be kept going, but that if the industry decided that it was not sufficiently in its interest to keep this body going, further Government funds would not be forthcoming. It is, naturally, a source of regret that the industry did not see fit to keep the Horticultural Marketing Council going. On the other hand, there have been various proposals from the industry about how to replace the job done by the Council. [Interruption.] This is for the industry to do under its own steam. Various proposals have been made and we shall be looking at them with interest.
§ Mr. DarlingHas not the Horticultural Marketing Council been charged with the task of planning or replacing the country's markets? At the moment, nobody is carrying out this task. The need far reorganisation of our marketing system is urgent. If the Ministry will not take on the job, nobody else will do it. Is this how we are to meet the challenge of the Common Market, with no ideas and nothing whatever being done?
§ Mr. SoamesThe Horticultural Marketing Council was not charged with reorganising the country's major markets. I agree that there are some private markets, but, generally speaking, they are the responsibility of local authorities.
§ Mr. PeartIs not the Minister aware that the markets in many of our centres are completely out of date and that even in France the Government have accepted a measure of responsibility? Why do we lag so much behind? Why do not the Government do something?
§ Mr. SoamesThe Horticultural Marketing Council has not yet been wound up. An announcement has been made. It will not be wound up until the middle of next year. As I said, I am not yet ready to make a statement.