HL Deb 01 February 1967 vol 279 cc951-3

2.20 p.m.

BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

My 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 the benefit of the grading provisions made under the Agriculture and Horticulture Act 1964 will apply only to growers and wholesalers, or whether such grading will be available for shoppers to make selection in the shops.]

BARONESS PHILLIPS

My Lords, sales by retail are specifically excluded from the grading provisions of the Agriculture and Horticulture Act 1964, but the benefits of those provisions will be felt throughout the chain of distribution, from producer to consumer.

BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

My Lords, while thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask whether my noble friend is aware that not even my regard for her makes it a satisfactory one? Might I ask whether we are to understand from that Answer that the growers will label their produce, that Government inspectors will inspect it, taxpayers will pay for it; but that the shoppers will be unable to select by it.

BARONESS PHILLIPS

My Lords, in reply to my noble friend, who knows that I have a great interest in this subject as she herself does, I understand that the consumer will benefit because the chain will be speeded up so that produce will get to the consumers faster. But this is basically not consumer legislation. Its purpose is to enable our growers to compete with imported produce. I think that my noble friend may be heartened to know that the Government are watching the Common Market countries who are extending their regulations to the retail market to see how it works out; so at the end of the year if she cares to put down another Question I may be able to give a more favourable reply.

BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

My Lords, I should not want to wait as long as that. Not wishing to embarrass my noble friend, I will not ask whether she does not think this is complete nonsense. But may I ask whether the Government would be prepared to consider extending the provisions of this Act?

BARONESS PHILLIPS

My Lords, as the noble Baroness will be aware I can give no firm undertaking on behalf of the Government. However, after discussion with the Ministry I think I can safely say that although this is not intended in any way to be consumer protection legislation, this type of provision is open to further discussion and, possibly, to legislation.

LORD NUGENT OF GUILDFORD

My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that, although these regulations will throw additional benefit on the producers, we from these Benches warmly welcome their introduction which will, on the whole, be of great benefit to horticultural production in this country. It will, I think, give some reassurance to the noble Baroness who asked the Question that the benefit will come also to the consumers in due course.

BARONESS PHILLIPS

My Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord for his contribution. As I understand it, any improvement, at growers' level or at grading and wholesalers' level, must inevitably help the consumer.