Meat Marketing (Hansard, 2 December 1964)

15. Mr. J. E. B. Hill
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for improving the marketing of meat.

§ Mr. Peart
I have been examining, in the light of the views expressed by the interested parties, the various proposals made by the Verdon Smith Committee and others. I have not reached any final conclusions yet and I shall not do so until I have had an opportunity for discussions with the main interests concerned.

Mr. Hill
In his progress towards a conclusion can the Minister assure us that he does not share the blind conviction of some of his colleagues of the need for a commodity commission with full trading powers? In the interval while he is awaiting agreement, could not he initiate action on some of the recommendations of the Verdon Smith Committee which are non-controversial, in particular the improvement of marketing intelligence? Cannot he institute for meat a similar series of Ministerial statements on market intelligence—bearing in mind supply, demand and prices—as was introduced by my right hon. Friend the Member for Bedford (Mr. Soames) in the case of cereals?

§ Mr. Peart
The hon. Member knows full well that the concept of a commodity commission which I advocated and which was advocated by my colleagues, who are enlightened, was to phase imports with home production. The Verdon Smith Committee did not make a survey of the international aspects of meat marketing. If the hon. Gentleman reads the Verdon Smith Committee's Report again, he will see that I am right and that my hon. Friends were right. Added to that, the Verdon Smith Committee concentrated on the marketing of home supplies. I would only repeat what I have said, that in the short period that I have been at the Ministry I have already initiated discussions, and I hope that I shall take a much shorter time than his right hon. Friend in coming to a conclusion.

§ Mr. Soames
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he will not find in the Report of the Verdon Smith Committee support for the setting up of a commodity commission? That is the first point. The second point is, will he tell us whether he is intending to introduce legislation during this Session for the marketing of home-produced meat in the same way, as he has said, that he intends to do in relation to marketing arrangements for cereals for which a Bill is coming forward today?

§ Mr. Peart
The right hon. Gentleman should know if he has read the Verdon Smith Committee's Report that the Committee did not deal with the international aspects. The commodity commission proposed by the Labour Party when in opposition, and which I myself advocated, 447 was essentially to deal with imports. The Verdon Smith Committee's Report deals with home supplies, as the right hon. Gentleman knows full well. Because this is a very difficult matter I have initiated discussions and we are at this stage examining the implications of the Verdon Smith Committee's Report and consulting all the interests concerned.