§ 36. Mr. Ridsdaleasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, whether he will make a statement on the future of county council smallholdings.
§ 24. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to receive the Report of the Committee on Smallholdings.
§ Mr. PeartThe Wise Committee of Inquiry are still taking oral evidence, and are making steady progress. As the hon. Members will know from answers I have given them earlier, I expect to receive the Committee's interim report before the end of the year. I cannot make a statement on the future of county council smallholdings until I have received and studied the report.
§ Mr. RidsdaleHave not the Minister and the Department been brooding for a long time? Is it not time for them to produce at least an Easter egg? Could we not have a progress report, because it makes it difficult for us to discuss the problem with the county council smallholders?
§ Mr. PeartI can only say that the hon. Member has a chicken complex. The Wise Committee was set up by the previous Administration. I think that hon. Members should allow it to make a full inquiry. It would be silly to rush this. This is a very important issue. That is why I have said that I would rather not make a statement until they have finished their deliberations. I think that this is right and sensible.
§ Mr. HamlingWould my right hon. Friend not agree that what hon. Members opposite want is not an Easter egg but a series of golden eggs?