HC Deb 12 March 1953 vol 512 c145W
84. Mrs. Castle

asked the Minister of Agriculture why he has refused to grant to the opponents of the Apple and Pear Marketing Scheme the same facilities for circularising growers as he has granted to the sponsors of the scheme.

Sir T. Dugdale

I am required by the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1931, to supply the Apple and Pear Marketing Board with a list of growers in order to help them to compile a register for the purposes of the initial poll on the scheme. This list is based on the agricultural returns, and under Section 80 of the Agriculture Act, 1947, I may not divulge such information except in specified circumstances which include the provision of such information to a marketing board. At present, I am advised that I have no authority to give similar information to any other persons in connection with the initial poll of a marketing scheme.