HC Deb 11 November 1957 vol 577 cc10-1W
Captain Kerby

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of the 11,548 producers registered with the Tomato and Cucumber Marketing Board in 1950 were entitled to vote on the initial poll to determine whether the Scheme should come into force; how many of them voted; whether this number was sufficient to satisfy the requirement that not less than half of those entitled to vote did so; and whether the number voting in favour of the Scheme amounted to the minimum requirement that one-third of those entitled to vote should be in favour as laid down in the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1931.

Mr. Godber

As my right hon. Friend explained in reply to Questions by my hon. Friend on 28th February, 1957, he has been informed by the Board that, out of the total of 11,548 producers who registered with the Board in 1950, 8,582 producers were entitled to vote at the initial poll. The number of registered producers who voted at the poll was 5,433. Of these, 4,685 representing 88 per cent. of the productive capacity of those voting, voted in favour of the Scheme. This was greater than the two-thirds majority of those voting that is required by statute. There is no such minimum requirement in the Marketing Acts as that mentioned in the last part of the Question.