Mr. W. E. Garrettasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes he proposes to make in the membership of the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce.
§ Mr. PeartThe Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland370W and I have reviewed the functions and membership of the Intervention Board. We are satisfied that there is value in having a single Government Department responsible for carrying out throughout the United Kingdom certain functions arising from our obligations under the common agricultural policy of the European Community. The present board members have represented to us, however, that their duties are of an essentially executive nature, and that the discretion they exercise is akin to the discretion normally exercised administratively by Government officials. We have, therefore, decided that, when the appointments of the present members of the board expire on 21st November 1975, the board shall be reconstituted under an independent chairman but consisting otherwise of senior officials of the Agricultural Departments and the Chief Executive of the Intervention Board. Mr. Shaw, the present Chairman, has kindly agreed to serve as chairman for a further two years.