VISCOUNT MONCKasked His Majesty's Government whether, in view of the disquiet and unrest caused in the agricultural community of the county of Hampshire in reference to the Paterson case, they will forthwith appoint an impartial judicial public inquiry in order to restore confidence.
THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (THE DUKE or NORFOLK)I am sending my noble friend a copy of an answer which my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries gave in reply to a question in another place on the 627WA 7th December setting out the facts and the settlement reached in this case. My right honourable friend is responsible to Parliament for the exercise by himself and his agents, the Hampshire War Agricultural Executive Committee, of the powers conferred on him by Parliament for securing the food production which the nation requires. As the noble Lord will see from the statement of my right honourable friend there is no issue which could properly form the subject of a judicial public inquiry.