Cereal Marketing (Hansard, 2 December 1964)

§ 5. Mr. Ensor
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for improving the system of cereal marketing.

§ Mr. Peart
As will be seen from the Order Paper, I have given notice of presentation for later today of the Cereals Marketing Bill. This is designed to give effect to the agreement reached with the farming and trade interests in September on a plan to set up a marketing organisation for home-grown cereals.

§ Mr. Ensor
Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House when these arrangements are likely to come into force?

§ Mr. Peart
I hope that after the relevant legislation has gone through the House the authority can be set up, ready for the next harvest, which will be in July, 1965.

§ Mr. George Y. Mackie
Can the Minister tell us when the plans for cereal import boards, as set out in the Labour Party manifesto, are coming forward?

§ Mr. Peart
That has nothing to do with the Question. At this stage I am anxious to ensure that an agreed measure between the trade and the industry which will create orderly marketing for home-grown grain proceeds quickly and effectively. For this reason it is right and proper that a Bill of the kind to which I have referred should be presented during this Session.

§ 33. Mr. Soames
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what decisions he has now reached on the creation of a producer marketing board for cereals and a cereals commodity commission.

§ Mr. Peart
The responsibility for promoting a producer marketing scheme for cereals under the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1958, rests with the producer interests. I have had no approach from them but, as the right hon. Member is aware, they were parties with the trade interests to the agreement reached in September on a plan to set up a marketing organisation for home-grown cereals. The Government are satisfied that this could make an effective contribution towards improved marketing arrangements and, as I have said earlier today, it will be seen from the Order Paper that I have given notice of presentation for later today of the Cereals Marketing Bill which is designed to give effect to it.

§ Mr. Soames
The right hon. Gentleman will be aware that during the election and before the election his party were constantly saying that they intended to set up a producer marketing board for cereals and a cereals commodity commission. Are we now to understand that he has jettisoned these doctrinaire ideas and is settling for the reasoned arrangement made by the last Government in consultation with all the interests concerned?

§ Mr. Peart
The right hon. Gentleman really must be his age occasionally. I hope that he will be much more responsible as shadow Minister of Agriculture. [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer."] I shall answer the question. The right hon. Gentleman knows full well—Interruptionl.]—I am trying to answer the question—behave yourselves. Mr. Speaker, may I answer the question?

§ Mr. Speaker
It is a good idea.

§ Mr. Peart
We are anxious to bring in this Bill which will give improved marketing, and we think that it is a right step to take. The concept of a commodity commission for imports is another matter, and we did not say specifically that we would introduce in this Parliament a producer board for cereals.

§ Mr. Shinwell
Would not my right hon. Friend agree that it would take longer than six weeks to correct all the mistakes of his predecessor?

§ Mr. Peart
I think that at least six months would do very well.

§ Mr. Soames
May I remind the right hon. Gentleman that there is a good deal of uncertainty both in industry and in the trade upon this, and that it would be most beneficial if the right hon. Gentleman would be prepared to clear it up? He now says that he did not say specifically that either the commodity commission or the cereals marketing board would be introduced during this first Session, and will he now state specifically that it will not be?

§ Mr. Peart
The right hon. Gentleman knows full well that during the election campaign I endorsed the decision to create an authority on the lines of the agreement which he concluded. I have acted with speed since I came into office, and I shall present a Bill today.