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Lords Amendment: No. 1, in page 11, line 37, at end insert:
() Before determining any amount under subsection (2)(a) or (3)(a) of this section as one to be raised for an accounting period the levy for which is, by virtue of section 14 of this Act, to be imposed in accordance with section 16(7) of this Act, the Ministers shall consult with such organisations appearing to them to represent the interests of producers as the Ministers consider appropriate, and, if the levy will or may be imposed on persons other than producers, with such other organisations as the Ministers consider appropriate having regard to that fact.
§ 8.58 p.m.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. John Mackie)I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.
The purpose of the Amendment is to require Ministers to consult organisations representing the interests of producers, and such other organisations as they consider appropriate if the levy is to be imposed on persons other than producers, before determining the amount to be raised by the levy for the industry to meet the Authority's requirements.
§ Mr. Anthony Stodart (Edinburgh, West)This is an extremely useful Amendment, one which escaped us despite what I thought the pretty good going over which we gave to the Bill in Committee. I think that in only one Clause of the Bill was there written in consultation with producers—if I recollect aright, in research and development. None of us, I freely admit, spotted that there was not provision for consultation on important matters of this kind. Therefore, I would say that this is an example of the value of having a new, fresh set of minds in another place to look at a Bill after we have passed it, no matter how conscientiously we think we have treated it here. Accordingly, I welcome the Amendment.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Subsequent Lords Amendment agreed to