§ Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Food (1) if he will set up a committee of inquiry into the prices of fruit and vegetables for the purpose of ascertaining the reasons for the wide margin of difference in the price paid to the grower and that paid by the consumer;
(2) what steps he is taking to establish a marketing board for fruit and vegetables before next season in order to regulate the prices of those commodities and ensure that the primary producer is adequately paid for his goods and services.
§ Dr. Edith Summerskill, pursuant to her reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 3rd November, 1947, Vol. 443, c. 1324–5], supplied the following information:
Terms of Reference of the Fruit and Vegetable (Marketing and Distribution) Organisation.
- 1. To initiate or to recommend such improvements as are practicable having regard to present shortages of manpower and materials, in the assembling, packing and grading, and movement of produce to the consumer.
- 2. To make a systematic study of the central and other markets and to make recommendations thereon.
- 3. To initiate or to recommend such further measures as may be practicable to eliminate wasteful use of manpower, transport, materials and other facilities in the handling, marketing and distribution of horticultural produce whether home produced or imported.
- 4. To examine the system of distribution and to investigate import, wholesale and retail costs and profits.
- 5. To review the operation of the Horticultural Produce (Sales on Commission) Act, 1926.
- 6. To make recommendations in regard to the establishment of a market research and intelligence system to serve growers, merchants and consumers.
- 7. To initiate or to recommend measures, in cluding the development of modern storage and food preservation and processing methods, to reduce deterioration and waste, for dealing with temporary surpluses and to extend the period of availability of produce.