Horticultural Marketing (Hansard, 18 February 1963)

§ 20. Mr. Peart
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now make a statement on the future of horticultural marketing.

§ Mr. Soames
I have already arranged for a fact-finding survey of wholesale horticultural markets. This is being conducted by my Department and the Department of Agriculture for Scotland. As a first step, local authorities have been asked to reply to a questionnaire covering the location and use of markets, the accommodation provided, plans for future development and other matters. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I are setting up an interdepartmental committee to consider the results of this survey as soon as they are available and to discuss them with all the interests concerned.

§ Mr. Peart
The Minister is always setting up committees and fact-finding bodies. Why does he not take action? We all know the facts. Is it not time that something was done in view of the dissolution of the Horticultural Marketing Council?

§ Mr. Soames
This matter is not related to the dissolution of the Horticultural Marketing Council. It is a question of markets under the control of local authorities throughout the country. With few exceptions, little has been done over the years to modernise these markets. The survey questionnaire which is being issued to all local authorities has the purpose of seeking their ideas about what should be done to modernise the markets, the majority of which, it should not be forgotten, are under the control of local authorities.

§ Mr. Peart
Whilst we recognise that markets are out of date, is the Minister not aware that this is only part of the problem? When will there be a major attack on the whole problem of horticulture, including marketing? Why does not the Minister do something?

§ Mr. Soames
I do not quite know what major attack the hon. Member has in mind, in which direction it would go, what flank it would turn and how much research it would involve. We all realise the vital importance of horticultural marketing to the horticultural industry as a whole, and we have its needs constantly in mind.

§ Sir G. Nabarro
Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that anxiety in this matter is not confined only to the benches opposite? Has he read, for example, Lord Stonham's lengthy article in the Grower, last week, or the lengthy contribution by the chairman of the Fruit Committee of the National Farmers' Union in Berrow's Worcester Journal Agricultural Supplement, also last week, drawing attention to this one cardinal factor? Is he aware that French, Italian and German investment in horticultural markets has been hugely greater than ours in the last few years, thereby diminishing the competitive position of our growers, notably apple growers in Worcestershire?

§ Mr. Soames
I fully realise that the advent of the Common Market did provide a considerable spur for greater investment in horticultural markets on the Continent of Europe.

Mr. J. Wells
Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Question on the Paper, using the word "marketing", deals with a much broader subject than that of provincial markets on which he has just given an Answer, and would he please have a more satisfactory statement to make to the House on Friday next week?

§ Mr. Soames
I do not think my hon. Friend would disagree that horticultural markets are a very great part of horticultural marketing.