HL Deb 03 March 1980 vol 406 cc7-9

2.48 p.m.

Baroness ELLIOT of HARWOOD

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 what progress has been made by the five marketeers appointed by the Minister of Agriculture in their investigation into the marketing of agricultural products; and whether they will make a statement.

Earl FERRERS

My Lords, the five advisers have principally been considering the potential for improved marketing in bacon, potatoes, milk and apples. They have also been looking at co-operation policy and export promotion. My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has already acted on their advice on co-operation. Changes are being made in the organisation of the Central Council for Agricultural and Horticultural Co-operation and in the emphasis of its work. They will continue to advise my right honourable friend in the course of the work which they are undertaking.

Baroness ELLIOT of HARWOOD

My Lords, I thank the Minister very much for his Answer. Have these recommendations which arc now coming from the department been discussed with, for example, the National Farmers' Union or any of the agricultural organisations, particularly of course the marketing boards, because I have not as yet seen any published proposals from the five advisers?

Earl FERRERS

My Lords, my noble friend is quite right. There has not been any publication, nor, indeed, is it anticipated that there will be. These are five individual people whom the Minister has asked to look into various sectors of marketing and to advise him in such a way as they think fit. Their remit is very wide. They can look into something individually or collectively, or as a group of two or three. They may publish their advice if they wish, but they are not obliged to do so.

Lord PEART

My Lords, surely it is important that the industry should know what is happening and how the Government are responding. I think it would have been sensible to publish a small White Paper. Will the noble Earl consider that?

Earl FERRERS

My Lords, of course I will consider anything which the noble Lord, Lord Peart, suggests. But the distinction is that this is not something which they have been asked to do which has a finite end to it. They are investigating the possibilities of marketing throughout quite a range of products, over quite a period of time. Of course, there will be many points which they raise which they will wish to be discussed, and we have no intention of inhibiting such discussion.

Baroness ELLIOT of HARWOOD

My Lords, if they are not going to discuss the matter with, let us say, the Milk Marketing Board or any of the other marketing boards, shall we in this House or in the other place be able to discuss the reports and the proposals before they are put into effect? Last Thursday we had one recommendation which was put through which had not been discussed by anybody, so far as I can see, and it is something which has caused a certain amount of anxiety among agricultural people. I am anxious that the agricultural community should co-operate with the Government, but I think that there should be opportunities for discussion, and the reasons for the Government taking certain action on the recommendations of these people should be made clear to us.

Earl FERRERS

My Lords, I quite see my noble friend's concern. I think that there is a slight difficulty in her mind and I should like to try to simplify it for her. These five marketeers have been appointed by the Minister to give him such advice as they think fit and, if they wish to publish it, to do so. There is no question of my right honourable friend taking decisions upon their advice without having first consulted the people concerned. Of course, there will be consultation, but they are not a council which will periodically issue reports.

The Earl of BESSBOROUGH

My Lords, if this is a sort of Conservative Quango, as some people might say it is, could my noble friend tell me exactly how much this inquiry and investigation cost?

Earl FERRERS

My Lords, it is not really a Quango. However, I can tell my noble friend that apart from the Secretariat's cost of three full-time officers who have been seconded from the Ministry, the cost to date, to 3rd March, has been £ 315.

Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY

My Lords, could I ask my noble friend whether I heard him correctly, that these five wise men are going to encourage the agricultural marketing boards and the agriculture co-operatives? If he did say this, which I think he did, I wonder whether he could pass on those comments to his noble friend before the Report stage this afternoon of the Competition Bill so that they might be able to help us when we come to that matter?

Earl FERRERS

My Lords, my noble friend either is being mischievous or is hard of hearing. I did not say that they were going to encourage any kind of marketing. What I said they are doing is that they are trying to look into marketing in order to advise my right honourable friends on the measures that ought to be taken.