LORD AMHERST or HACKNEYMy Lords, I beg to ask the other question which stands in the name of my noble friend the Earl of Selborne.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government whether they can state when the Report of the Hops Reorganization Commission was received and when it is going to be published.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (THE EARL OF HUNTINGDON)My Lords, in answer to this question I would say that the Report of the Hops Reorganization Commission was received in March, 1947, and it is hoped that copies will be available within the next month.
§ LORD AMHERST OF HACKNEYDoes not the noble Earl consider that five months is rather a long time to wait for the publication of this Report? After all, there are many hop growers who are put to serious inconvenience and possible loss by this delay.
§ THE EARL OF HUNTINGDONWe do realize the difficulties of delay, but this is due to difficulties of printing. There is a very big hold up in printing, but we are making every effort to get the Report through.
§ EARL DE LA WARRDoes the noble Earl really say that the only reason for the non-publication of the Report for five months is due to printing?
§ THE EARL OF HUNTINGDONYes.