41. Mr. Wellsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations have been made to the Commission or elsewhere in the EEC about the need to retain the Milk Marketing Board, the Hop Marketing Board and the Apple and Pear Development Council.
§ Mr. BishopDuring the negotiations prior to the United Kingdom accession it was accepted by the Community that a producers' organisation is free to carry out marketing functions like those of the Milk Marketing Boards, provided that it acts within the Treaty of Rome and legislation deriving from it. Discussions have been taking place on the policy for hops during which the United Kingdom representatives have emphasised the important function of the Hops Marketing Board640W in concentrating supply and adapting output to the needs of the market. The Commission is aware of the services provided for producers by the Apple and Pear Development Council and that these are financed wholly by producers.