§ Sir A. Bossomasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what right of appeal exists under his Regulations to farmers who disagree with the decisions of officials of his Department such as milk inspectors; and what is the procedure to be followed in the appeal.
Mr. AmoryI think my hon. Friend has in mind the milk production advisory officers of the National Agricultural Advisory Service. These officers provide technical assistance in the administration of the Regulations concerned with the 87W hygienic production of milk, but they have no power to take decisions involving statutory action.
The Milk and Dairies Regulations, 1949, require that a registered milk producer shall be given notice of intention to cancel his registrations and thus prevent him producing and selling milk for human consumption. He then has the right to make, within 28 days, representations on or objections to the proposed action. His representations are considered by the county agricultural executive committee; objections are referred to an independent tribunal, the constitution and procedure of which are set out in the first schedule to the Regulations. The final decision is taken in the light of the advice I receive from these bodies.
Under the provisions of the Milk (Special Designations) (Raw Milk) Regulations, 1949, the same procedure applies in the case of a proposal to suspend or to revoke a producer-retailer's licence to use the special designation "Tuberculin tested" for his milk; save that a producer-retailer has a right of appeal to a tribunal only if his business be carried on in a specified area where no milk may be sold unless it bears a special designation.