§ 49. Mr. Mackieasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the position of the county agricultural executive committees and how they are functioning at the present time; what instructions he has issued to them; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartAt the time of the announcement in White Paper (Cmnd. 4564) that it had been decided to replace county agricultural executive committees in England and Wales by small regional panels, my right hon. Friend and his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales asked the chairman and members of the committees to continue with their essential work until the necessary legislation could be enacted. They much appreciated their ready agreement to do so.
Pending the legislation, committees are functioning as previously, except that their work has, with their agreement, been progressively reduced to essential activities.
§ 50. Mr. Cledwyn Hughesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the number, com position as between landlords, farmers, workers and others, the territorial area of the bodies he proposes to set up to replace the country agricultural executive committees; when they will come into operation; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. Anthony StodartAs was announced in the White Paper (Cmnd. 4564) presented to Parliament in January this year, it has been decided to replace the county agricultural executive committees by small regional panels. It is proposed that there should be one such panel in each of the Ministry's regions in England and two in Wales. Each panel is expected to consist of about 12 members and to include, among others, farmers, landowners and workers; but there will be no formal system of allocation of seats. Regional panels will not function before the abolition of the county committees, and this will require amendment of the Agriculture Act, 1947. The necessary legislation will be introduced as soon as the parliamentary time-table permits.