HC Deb 25 March 1968 vol 761 cc893-4
18. Mr. Farr

asked the Minister of Labour why there are no farmers from the East Midlands on the Agricultural, Horticultural and Forestry Industry Training Board; and if he will take steps to remedy the position.

Mr. Hattersley

There is such a farmer on the board.

Mr. Farr

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for correcting the erroneous impression which he gave me in a letter the other day. However, the fact remains that the East Midlands are not properly represented on this Board. Does he not agree that one of the troubles is that there are more union representatives than farmer representatives on the Board, although farmers are solely responsible for financing the whole scheme?

Mr. Hattersley

No. The constitution of industrial training boards requires employers and employees to be represented equally. As for the correction which I gave to the hon. Gentleman, what I said in the House some time ago remains true and was not corrected by the letter. There is representation of the sort the hon. Gentleman wishes and I am sure that that is entirely proper.