HC Deb 09 December 1976 vol 922 cc600-1
2. Mr. Spence

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has for the agriculture industry in respect of devolution.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Gavin Strang)

Schedule 7 of the Scotland and Wales Bill provides that some of my Department's functions will be transferred to the Welsh Assembly. Schedule 6 provides for the transfer of a number of similar functions of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland to the Scottish Administration. Responsibility for the main aspects of agricultural policy will remain with the United Kingdom Government, since they are too bound up with the management of the national economy, membership of the Community and international agreements to make devolution practicable.

Mr. Spence

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that interesting answer. Can he not be a little more specific and say, for example, what will happen to marketing boards under the devolution proposals? What will happen to the agricultural colleges, particularly in Scotland, under devolution and what will happen to EEC grants? None of these items is clear, either in the devolution Bill or from the Minister's answer.

Mr. Strang

There is no question of devolving responsibility for the agricultural marketing boards, or of different rates of agricultural grant, under the Community schemes, being payable in Scotland and Wales as compared to England.

Mr. Crawford

Will the hon. Gentleman tell the farming industry in Scotland that the best thing that can happen, and that will happen, to it is self-government? Will he inform the industry that one way in which the difficulties of the green pound can be eliminated in Scotland is through the establishment of a strong pound Scots?

Mr. Strang

No. My understanding is that the NFU for Scotland very much values the fact that Scotland is part of the United Kingdom.

Mr. William Hamilton

What is or has been the official reaction of the Scottish NFU to the Government's proposals for devolution?

Mr. Strang

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has had discussions with the National Farmers' Union for Scotland and I believe that it is reasonably happy with the proposals in the Bill.