Mr. B. Harrisonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Report of the Runciman Committee on Horticultural Marketing will be published; and whether he will make a statement.
Mr. AmoryThe Report will be published on Tuesday, 29th January. My colleagues and I are extremely grateful to Lord Runciman and the members of his Committee for the thoroughness with which they have carried out their inquiry.
Their Report, which is the result of the most comprehensive independent investigation into the marketing of horticultural produce which has ever been carried out in this country, contains important proposals which will need careful examination not only by Her Majesty's Government but also by the many associations representing the interests affected by them. This is bound to take some considerable time, and consultations between the Government, and the other interests concerned will also be necessary before it will be possible for me to make any statement about the Government's conclusions. I will make sure that no time is lost, however, and I hope I shall be able to indicate to the House the Government's views on the principal conclusions and recommendations of the Report before the summer Recess.