HC Deb 17 January 1967 vol 739 cc93-6
Mr. James Davidson (Aberdeenshire, West)

I beg to move Amendment No. 2, in page 2, line 41 after '(1)', to insert: 'On the advice of appropriate professional and representative bodies'. The object of the Meat and Livestock Commission is that of promoting greater efficiency in the livestock industry and the livestock products industry. This function obviously requires technical knowledge, skill and experience. The appointment of committees is surely a matter in which professional representative bodies such as livestock committees of the National Farmers' Unions of Scotland, England and Wales and Northern Ireland and butchers' federations, as well as the Consumer Council, should be directly consulted and enabled to use their knowledge and experience.

I do not intend to delay the House on this small Amendment. I hope that the Minister will accept it. If he cannot do so, will he give an assurance that the appropriate bodies will be consulted in the appointment of the committees?

Mr. Stainton

I cannot support this Amendment, but it gives an opportunity to make comments which, I think, are relevant on Clause 2. I cannot support the Amendment for two reasons. First, the actual wording would strip the Minister of many of his powers and would impose on him the obligation to accept that advice. In Schedule 1, there is an obligation laid on the Minister in two cases, that of the Production Committee and that of the Distribution Committee, to have consultations with such organizations as appear to him appropriate.

What is still missing—and I am distressed at this because the Minister and I had exchanges on this matter in Committee—is an obligation on the Minister to consult any body in regard to appointments to the Consumers Committee. I feel this deeply. I believe that I am in order, Mr. Speaker, in developing this point so far as it comes within the Amendment.

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Member must not address himself to an Amendment that we are not discussing.

Mr. Stainton

I was trying to suggest, Mr. Speaker, that I was in order in interpreting the Amendment we are discussing in this sense.

Mr. Speaker

In what sense?

Mr. Stainton

In the sense that the Amendment suggests that appointments to the three committees shall be on the advice of appropriate professional and representative bodies". I have pointed out that this applies, in effect, in two cases, but not in the case of the Consumers Committee. In Clause 1(2) it is stipulated that in carrying out its functions the Commission shall have regard to the interests of consumers but that is as far as the Minister is obligated in this regard. There is a clear need to embroil the consumers officially in this situation and to write into the Bill that such organisations as the Consumer Council or the Catering Trades Association and various other bodies which represent consumers should be consulted about the membership of the committees.

Mr. Peart

I hope that the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, West (Mr. James Davidson) will not press this Amendment. When he looks carefully at the Bill I think he will appreciate that the Amendment is unnecessary. I believe the hon. Member for Sudbury and Woodbridge (Mr. Stainton) appreciates this.

I understand that the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, West is anxious to write into the Statute that I should consult all interests concerned, certainly about persons to be appointed to the committees; but this is already provided for in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Bill. If the hon. Member looks at page 86 he will see references to consulting appropriate organisations in lines 11 and 36. It is our intention to obtain nominations by a similar procedure to that which has been used for the nomination of persons for membership of P.I.D.A. Under this system the organisations concerned would be asked to nominate candidates for each seat and the Secretary of State for Scotland and I would appoint a member from those nominations. With all the safeguards in the Bill, there is no need to elaborate that. Consultations will take place.

The Consumers Committee will be entirely new and it would be extremely difficult to specify its membership. There are various organisations whom I have consulted even before the Bill was introduced. I understand the purpose which the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, West has in mind, but I hope that with this explanation he will withdraw the Amendment.

Mr. James Davidson

I thank the Minister for that explanation. In view of the assurance he has given, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the Amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.