HC Deb 13 March 1967 vol 743 cc39-40
39. Mr. Rankin

asked the Lord President of the Council why he will not move to appoint a specialist committee on agriculture for Scotland similar to the one for England and Wales.

38. Mr. Emrys Hughes

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will move to appoint a specialist committee for agriculture for Scotland similar to the one appointed for England and Wales.

Mr. Crossman

No, Sir. I would prefer to see how the existing experimental Committees work before considering change or additions.

Mr. Rankin

Whilst not thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that there is a widely held view in Scotland at the moment, due to a recent electoral upset, that Scottish interests at Cabinet level do not receive the same treatment as English interests, particularly in regard to development and planning? Is he further aware that his reply just now provides some proof of that view?

Mr. Crossman

I would have thought that the fact that two Scottish hon. Members have been added to the Agriculture Committee should have satisfied even those who on our side of the House are most deeply concerned about the events of last week.

Mr. David Steel

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he has given no answer? I raised this matter during our debate on procedure before Christmas and, thanks to pressure from other hon. Members, two Scottish hon. Members have been added to a Committee whose review does not cover the Department of Agriculture in Scotland. This is an extraordinary situation. Will the right hon. Gentleman consider whether the Committee's remit could be extended to cover the administration of agriculture in Scotland?

Mr. Crossman

The Committee has its terms of reference for the rest of this Session and I believe that it would be a mistake to disturb them half-way through. The question of whether further specialist committees should be created is for consideration when we come to the next Session.

Mr. Maclennan

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that it might assist the existing Committee in its consideration of British agriculture if it was able to bring before it members of the Scottish Department?

Mr. Crossman

I am prepared to consider that but if I remember rightly the terms of reference are about the English Ministry of Agriculture and not the Scottish Department.