§ 2. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Minister of Labour what representations he has received from the National Farmers' Union about the Agricultural Training Board; and what reply he has sent.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Roy Hattersley)I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 14th February to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Hazell)—[Vol. 758, c. 1348-1350.]
§ Mr. DigbyWhile recognising that the hon. Gentleman anticipated his Answer to this Question only last Thursday, may I ask him to answer my Question?
§ Mr. HattersleyMy right hon. Friend has had a number of representations from the N.F.U. including the original request that the Board should be set up in the first place. The most recent suggestion came out on Thursday, when the N.F.U. suggested that a good case could be made out for a Board, but the Board had anticipated that sugestion at a meeting on the previous day by itself suggesting a joint meeting.
§ 40. Mr. John Wellsasked the Minister of Labour how many farmers have failed to reply to the Agricultural Training Board's questionnaires.
§ Mr. HattersleyThis is a matter for the Board, but I understand that about 90 per cent. of employers have replied to the questionnaire.
§ 41. Mr. John Wellsasked the Minister of Labour, in view of the many representations from farmers against the Agricultural Training Board, if he will arrange for a poll of producers into the desirability of its continuance.
§ Mr. HattersleyNo, Sir.
§ Mr. WellsIn the light of the Minister's statement last week and the need for the Board to live in harmony with the farming community if it is to succeed, will the hon. Gentleman think again about it, especially as the farming community are still upset even now?
§ Mr. HattersleyI have said many times, and I welcome the opportunity to say again, that the Board can succeed only if it lives in harmony with the farming community. I hope that, as a basis for future harmony, the statement made by the Board after its meeting last week, offering to have new talks with the industry if the industry wished, will be followed up successfully.
§ Mr. FarrWhen he is looking at the structure of the Board, will the hon. Gentleman look into the fact that there are no farmer members on the Board from the East Midlands and put that matter right?
§ Mr. HattersleyThe hon. Gentleman wrote to me about that, and I hoped that I had convinced him that there were, in fact, members on the Board from the East Midlands.