HC Deb 01 July 1968 vol 767 cc1070-1
25. Mr. John Wells

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity by what authority the Agricultural, Horticultural and Forestry Industry Board proposes to enforce payment of levies on employers who refuse to pay.

Mr. Hattersley

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Hazell) on Friday, 14th June.

Mr. Wells

Is the Minister aware that the Question, which received a Written Answer on a Friday, was put down late at night on a Wednesday by a Government supporter, that it had all the characteristics of a planted Question, and that it made it impossible for hon. Members on this side of the House to put supplementary questions? The point which the hon. Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Hazell) and I sought to raise was this: does the Minister realise that this Board is extremely unpopular with the entire farming community and that the reply which he gave to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North made it appear even more dictatorial than it looked already?

Mr. Hattersley

I have no comment to make on the circumstances of the Question nor on the interpretation of the hon. Member for Maidstone (Mr. John Wells) of the motives of my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, North. But I am grateful to the hon. Member for Maidstone for giving me another opportunity to confirm that the Levy Order is in force and that farmers who do not respond to it can be dealt with in the way set out in the Order.

26. Mr John Wells

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether, in view of the number of refusals to pay the levy, she will now dissolve the Agricultural, Horticultural and Forestry Industry Training Board.

Mr. Hattersley

No, Sir.

Mr. Wells

I repeat my question: is the Minister aware that nearly the entire farming community are dissatisfied with this Board? They are not opposed to training, but they are dissatisfied with this Board. Will the Minister think again about it?

Mr. Hattersley

I am aware that the hon. Member is dissatisfied with the Board but I am not at all sure that he speaks for the industry. The National Farmers' Union, with whom I have had the closest consultation during the last few months, are working out a system by which they believe the Board and the industry can live in peace. I hope that it works satisfactorily. I know that a number of comments have been made about the Board, but they are certainly not justified.

Mr. David Mitchell

Is the Minister aware that the mushroom growers are being made to pay the levy while an appeal is still being considered whether the levy should apply to them?

Mr. Hattersley

I am aware of the special problems of the mushroom growers, but I am sure that the levy is being applied in a reasonable way. Part of my discussions with the Board and the N.F.U. are concerned with the problems of special groups, one of whom are comprised of the mushroom growers.