§ Sir R. Clarryasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether it is the intention, under the Food (Feeding Stuffs) Order No. 798 of 1943, to coerce the provender millers, etc., to become members of Conpro, Limited; and why those who are members of this Government controlled company should have preference over those who are not?
§ Mr. MabaneThe company to which my hon. Friend refers has been set up to administer a scheme for concentrating the manufacture of provender and compound and mixed feeding stuffs for animal feeding. The scheme provides for the payment of inescapable standing charges to members of the company who are required to cease production. The moneys for this purpose will be raised by levies on the members and the scheme cannot operate equitably or effectively unless all the larger manufacturers are brought into it. In accordance with the wishes of the industry, therefore, membership of Conpro, Limited, has been made compulsory upon these manufacturers. The smaller producers are not required to join the company, but may do so, if they wish, during the next three months.
§ Sir R. Clarryasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, when the company named Conpro, Limited, was formed by his Department; who are the shareholders; whether his Department is represented on the board by any directors; and who are the members of the board?
§ Mr. MabaneThe answers to the four parts of my hon. Friend's Question are as follow:
1014W1. Conpro, Limited, was incorporated on 24th May, 1943. It was formed by the provender milling and compound food manufacturing industries to operate a scheme, approved by my Noble Friend, for the concentration of production of provender and the manufacture of compounds and mixed feeding stuffs for animal consumption.
2. The company is limited by guarantee and has no share capital. Funds for the administration of the scheme will be collected from the members by means of levies.
3. My Noble Friend is not represented on the national board of directors nor on the five local boards of the company but has the right to be present, or represented, at all meetings and must be provided with copies of the minutes.
4. The directors of the company are:
Name. Appointed by:— F.G. Bevin National Executive Committee of Compound Cattle Food Manufacturers. J. K. Bibby A.E. Robinson C.H. Robson R.A.S. Templeton H.W. Robertson Scottish Compound Cake and Meal Manufacturers' Association. C. Norman National Association of Provender Millers. James Hendry Arthur Whittaker William Mullin J. M. Howie T. P. Fulford National Association of Corn and Agricultural Merchants. Egerton Orme A. H. Hunt F. H. W. Swallow A. Ross A. Wild Co-operative Wholesale Society. R. P. Silcock Co-opted to represent silenced mills.