§ 11.5 a.m.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy 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 will consider extending the provisions of the Agriculture and Horticulture Act 1964 to include retail sales before the Act comes into force in July 1967.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, BOARD OF TRADE (LORD WALSTON)My Lords, the grading provisions of the Agriculture and Horticulture Act 1964 were designed to apply to sales in bulk. Different provisions would be required for sales by retail, and we do not feel that, at this stage, it would be wise or indeed helpful to consider introducing further legislation.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, while, out of courtesy, I thank my noble friend for that Answer, is he aware that I regard it as completely unsatisfactory? I am wondering whether my noble friend could tell the House why it is that on matters of horticulture, Government, by either Party, seems to put the consumer last. It is the consumer, in effect, who is paying for this grading.
§ LORD WALSTONMy Lords, I am unfortunately well aware of the feelings of my noble friend and I am sorry that she feels in this way. I can assure her that the Government have no intention or desire to put the consumer last, and I should have thought that the pro posed legislation and what has already been done for consumer protection gives, 1558 if I may say so with all respect to my noble friend, the lie to that suggestion. I must point out to my noble friend that this particular piece of legislation is designed to promote the competitive ability of the British producer and to deal with producer matters. It would only be clouding the issue and making the legislation less efficient if we attempted to include legislation for dealing with consumer protection.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that I still disagree with him and that the legislation that is now pending, and has-been pending for a long time, in regard to consumer protection does not give the lie to what I said? Lastly, is he aware that the shopper shopping for fruit needs a grading system more than anything, and can he further emphasise this point to his right honourable friend?
§ LORD WALSTONMy Lords, I will make certain that my right honourable friend is aware of my noble friend's views on this subject, but I would point out to my noble friend that the retail shopper—the housewife—shopping for fruit has the opportunity of seeing the fruit before she buys it and therefore to that extent is able to do her own grading, whereas the wholesaler buying the fruit has to buy it in crates, or whatever form it may be, and therefore has to rely on a suitable form of grading.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, does my noble friend ever buy from the barrows?
§ LORD WALSTONMy Lords, I do not.