FUNCTIONS OF AUTHORITY AS TO MARKET INTELLIGENCE

HC Deb 07 April 1970 vol 799 cc397-400

Mr. Hoy

I beg to move Amendment No. 11, in page 4, line 19, leave out from beginning to end of line 21 and insert: (ii) activities ancillary to the production of eggs, being activities comprised in the hatching or rearing of domestic fowls or the disposal of domestic fowls at end of lay; and

Mr. Deputy Speaker

With this we can discuss Amendments Nos. 12, 13 and 14.

Mr. Hoy

I think it would be agreeable to both sides if we took all these together.

As hon. Members opposite will recall, we had some discussion in Committee on the authority's powers in relation to the voluntary supply of information on chick placings and the culling of birds from the laying flock. There was agreement between us that it would be desirable for the authority to have this information. The only question was whether the point was covered by the existing wording of the Bill. Our advice was that the wording was adequate for this purpose. Hon. Members opposite felt differently, however, and successfully pressed their point in a Division.

We agree that in this very important sphere of the authority's activities it is important that there should be no element of doubt. On reflection, therefore, we are prepared to accept the principle of the Amendment carried in Committee. Amendment No. 11 is a purely technical amendment designed to bring the wording more closely into line with that adopted elsewhere in the Bill. I hope that hon. Members opposite will accept it on this basis.

Hon. Members opposite will recall that they also tabled amendments to Clause 4(2) at the Committee stage in terms similar to those we are now proposing in Amendments Nos. 12 and 14. We said then that we agreed with the Reorganisation Commission that powers for the compulsory collection of information were justified in relation to wholesale prices and the related aspect of quantities since these would clearly be key factors in the market situation.

We also said that we had not hitherto felt justified in going further than this, but that in the light of the arguments advanced by hon. Members opposite, we would be prepared to have another look at their point before the Report stage.

It remains our hope that the authority will be able to obtain all the information they need for their market intelligence functions on a voluntary basis. I am sure that the industry as a whole will recognise the advantage in the common interest of co-operating fully with the Authority.

What we are dealing with here therefore is essentially a reserve power, but on consideration we accept that it would be prudent to extend the authority's compulsory powers in the manner suggested by hon. Members opposite in Committee. I am sure therefore that hon. Members opposite will welcome the Amendments.

I should mention the slight differences in the terms of the Amendments compared with those tabled in Committee. They are the result of bringing the wording more closely into line with that adopted elsewhere in the Bill. Amendment No. 13 repeats an Amendment tabled by hon. Members opposite in Committee. We then said that we were prepared to consider extending the Authority's powers in relation to the compulsory supply of information on the lines proposed by hon. Members opposite. Our own Amendments to subsection (2) reflect the results of this consideration and cover the substance of the points raised in Committee, the difference being the technical one of the wording, which we have brought into line with that used elsewhere in the Bill.

I therefore hope that the House will agree to the Government's Amendments and that hon. Members opposite will feel that we have done sufficient to cover their point and will not press their Amendment.

Mr. Peter Mills

Government Amendment No. 11 is acceptable to the Opposition. We welcome what the Government have done. The collection of the fullest information is vital for the authority, if it is to work properly. Information, if collected properly, will enable the authority to plan ahead and anticipate trends in the changing needs of the consumer. Amendment No. 12 is acceptable, as it provides for the registration of persons engaged in the hatching or rearing of domestic fowls". It is right for the Authority to have this power.

Our Amendment No. 13 is similar to the Government's Amendment, except that we are also concerned about the disposal of domestic fowls at the end of laying. A considerable number of fowls are sold by producers through other than the recognised poultry packing stations, which obviously would have to be registered. Such other outlets would be from the farm gate, on van rounds, or directly to hotels. It would be difficult to get the people concerned to register. This type of outlet might grow over the farm gate, on van rounds, and so on. The authority might not have all the necessary information to ensure that it knows how many fowls and chickens are being disposed of. We thought it worth tabling our Amendment to re-emphasise this point. We shall not press our Amendment, but we hope that the Authority will consider what we have said. If the trade grows and grows, it may be necessary for some of these people to register.

Government Amendment No. 14 is also acceptable, as it broadens the scope of the information which the Authority may obtain.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendments made: No. 12, in page 4, line 37, at end insert: ',or in activities ancillary to the production of eggs and comprised in the hatching or rearing of domestic fowls,'.

No. 14, in line 43, after 'retail', insert: ',as to the numbers of domestic fowls hatched, reared or disposed of at end of lay by those persons in the course of activities ancillary to the production of eggs, and as to the prices at which any such fowls have been sold by those persons'.—[Mr. Hoy.]