§ VISCOUNT BLEDISLOEMy Lords, in asking the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper, I must apologise to the House and also to my noble friend who represents the Ministry of Agriculture here because, as regards the first part of it, the Question was asked, unknown to me, exactly two months ago, while I was abroad, by the noble Earl, Lord Listowel, and was replied to; but I did not see the reply by the noble Earl, Lord St. Aldwyn. I hope the House and both noble Earls will accept my apology. I now beg to ask the Question standing in my name.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they can state the exact terms of reference of the Committee of Inquiry into Horticultural Marketing about to be set up under the chairmanship of the Viscount Runciman of Doxford, and the names of its other members.]
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (EARL ST. ALDWYN)My Lords, I am very glad to say that the following persons have agreed to act as members of the Committee of Inquiry into Horticultural Marketing. As your Lordships will know, the Chairman is the noble Viscount, Lord Runciman of Doxford. In addition we have Mrs. N. L. Beer, J.P., a member of the Manchester City Council and of the White Fish Industry Advisory Council; Mr. F. W. Charles, C.B.E., a partner in the firm of Peat, Marwick, Mitchell &Co., chartered accountants; Mr. H. Douglass, General Secretary of the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation; Professor D. S. Hendrie, Principal of the West of Scotland College of Agriculture; Professor E. F. Nash, Professor of Agricultural Economics in the University College of Wales; and Mr. S. V. Swash, Chairman of Messrs. F. W. Woolworth & Company, Limited.
§ VISCOUNT BLEDISLOEMy Lords, as the terms of reference of the Committee are obviously very vague, can the noble Earl tell me whether the inquiries of the Committee will cover the sort of case which occurred two years ago, of plums being dumped from the Continent of Europe upon our market at a considerably lower cost than we can grow them in this country?
EARL ST. ALDWYNMy Lords, as the terms of reference show, the Committee will be concerned with the methods of, and the facilities for, marketing horticultural produce, both home produced and imported. Such matters as the regulation of imports (including import duties charged) must be considered in the context of general trade policy and of our international obligations. They would therefore not be appropriate for consideration by the Committee, and the examination of such matters is the responsibility of the President of the Board of Trade.
§ THE EARL OF LISTOWELMy Lords, I am sure we are all grateful to the noble Viscount for drawing attention to this important matter, which cannot be emphasised too often. May I ask the noble Earl whether he can say how soon this Committee will start to sit, and also—which may be more difficult to answer—whether he has any idea how long its work will take?
EARL ST. ALDWYNMy Lords, as regards the first part of the noble Earl's question, I understand that the Chairman is most anxious to start and is proposing, and in fact hopes, to call his Committee together on April 5. As regards the second part of the noble Earl's question, I am afraid I cannot answer him.
§ LORD MACPHERSON OF DRUMOCHTERMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl whether the scope of the inquiry will be wide enough to include the subject of retail marketing of horticultural produce, having regard to the great delays in, and complaints about, the passing on of price fluctuations of vegetables and fruit, particularly when prices come down?