HC Deb 26 February 1969 vol 778 cc1707-9
26. Mr. Jopling

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will row give the date when he expects to receive the report of the Northumberland Committee's investigation into foot-and-mouth disease.

30. Mr. Biffen

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date he now expects to receive and take action on the preliminary recommendations of the Northumberland Committee on foot-and-mouth disease.

Mr. Cledwyn Hughes

I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West (Mr. Stodart) on 22nd January.—[Vol. 776, c. 475.]

Mr. Jopling

When the Minister gets the Report, will he ask the Committee to put in a survey of the hardship caused to farmers by his failure to honour the pound-for-pound pledge for the compensation fund?

Mr. Hughes

The hon. Member must put down another Question on that.

Mr. Biffen

Is the Minister aware that he is complicating matters for himself and antagonising the farming community by his unwillingness to answer the supplementary question put by my hon. Friend? Could he not give a holding answer that he is looking at this vexed problem and will view it with the sympathy shown by the Minister last year when the scourge was at its agonising height?

Mr. Hughes

I am surprised that the hon. Member should ask that question because I gave him a detailed Written Answer to a Question on this subject. In the meantime I have had discussions with the President of the National Farmers' Union and have asked for further information which he has agreed to let me have.

Mr. Wellbeloved

Will my right hon. Friend allay the growing concern of British housewives about the possible cost of the weekend joint by arranging for the Northumberland Committee's Report to be presented to the House as soon as he receives it so that there may be a debate in which the consumers' interest can be put to counter some of the vested interests put in this House by the farmers' lobby?

Mr. Hughes

I assure my hon. Friend that there will be no delay in printing the document when I have received it.

Mr. Godber

Will the right hon. Gentleman look seriously at this matter again? Does he recall that when it was first discussed I put the point to him that as the Government had committed themselves morally to a contribution of a quarter of a million pounds surely they should now pay it? The opportunity is there for them to do so and to help farmers who have suffered.

Mr. Hughes

There are many aspects to this question which are impossible to go into at Question-time. When I come to a final conclusion I will tell the House.

Mr. Hooson

On the supplementary question which asked about compensation, will the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking to answer Question No. 65, which deals with this point?