HC Deb 25 February 1938 vol 332 cc683-4W
Captain Briscoe

asked the Minister of Agriculture, whether he will make a statement regarding the committee set up to consider certain aspects of the hops marketing scheme?

Mr. W. S. Morrison

Yes, Sir. The Committee of three appointed recently to review the quota provisions of the Hops Marketing Scheme was a non-statutory body. On further consideration I decided that the enquiry would be facilitated if it were conducted by a statutory body and I have accordingly re-constituted the Committee as an Agricultural Marketing Reorganisation Commission under the Agricultural Marketing Acts. For this purpose it has been necessary to add two further members, and the Commission has been constituted as follows: Mr. A. W. Cockburn (Chairman), Mr. A. F. Forbes and Mr. T. W. Haward, the members of the original Committee, together with Mr. C. J. T. B. Grylls and Mr. R. D. Peck. The Commission has been directed to consider—

  1. (a) the operation of the provisions of the Hops Marketing Scheme relative to quotas for the sale of hops by producers registered under the Scheme (which provisions were incorporated in the scheme for a period of five years ending 31st July, 1939, by the Hops Marketing Scheme (Amendment) Order, 1934);
  2. (b) the desirability of retaining the quota provisions in the Scheme with or without modifications, due regard being paid to the interests of hop growers, brewers, and any other persons affected 684 by the Scheme, and to the public interest;

and to make such recommendations with respect to the matters investigated as it thinks expedient.