§ 2.43 p.m.
§ LORD RUSSELL OF LIVERPOOLMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware of certain alleged irregularities which took place during the election last December of a special member for the British Egg Marketing Board and whether they do not think that there should be a full inquiry into these matters.]
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD (LORD ST. OSWALD)My Lords, my right honourable friends are aware of 641 the irregularities admitted in statements made at the time by the British Egg Marketing Board and its Chairman, but, as my right honourable friend has advised the noble Lord in correspondence, the detailed conduct of these elections is not the responsibility of Ministers, and consequently my right honourable friends do not feel called upon to institute an inquiry into matters which are essentially a domestic responsibility of egg producers.
§ LORD RUSSELL OF LIVERPOOLMy Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord for his reply and to ask him a further question: namely, whether, as it appears at the moment there is no machinery to investigate irregularities which may occur during such elections, Her Majesty's Government will consider amending the electoral rules set out in paragraphs 9 to 18 of the British Egg Marketing Scheme.
LORD ST. OSWALDNo, my Lords, because this would require new legislation. The various schemes under the Act are relatively the same in so far as elections are concerned, and we see no reason to alter the details of the scheme in this respect. This was an abuse of the scheme as it stood, and we do not think that other schemes should be affected by legislation at the moment as a result of this particular instance.
§ LORD RUSSELL OF LIVERPOOLMy Lords, am I to assume from the noble Lord's reply that when such occurrences happen in future elections the Government intend to continue the role of Pontius Pilate?