§ Mr. W. R. Duckworthasked the Minister of Agriculture when it is intended to lay before the House the amendments of the Potato Marketing Scheme; and whether he is now able to give an assurance that no authority will be given to the Potato Marketing Board to enter into competition with manufacturers in this country, using potatoes as a raw material, or to interfere in the normal working of the machinery for distribution?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonI am not yet in a position to say when it will be possible to lay the amendments before the House. My hon. Friend is, no doubt, aware that the objections that were made to the proposed amendments have recently formed the subject of a lengthy public inquiry. The report of the Commissioner who conducted the inquiry has been received only within the last day or two, and it will require careful consideration by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself. In the meantime it would not be proper for me to express an opinion on the merits of any of the proposed amendments.