§ 25. Sir John Wellsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action the Government will be taking following the vote in favour of a horticultural development council in the recent poll of growers.
§ Mrs. FennerFollowing the poll of growers, the results of which were announced on 4 April, my right hon. Friend and the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales have decided to proceed with arrangements for setting up a Horticultural Development Council for Great Britain. The council will have powers to raise a levy on sales of horticultural produce excluding apples, pears, hops and mushrooms, and to use the resultant funds to commission research and development. A draft order 237W under the Industrial Organisation and Development Act 1947 will be laid before Parliament shortly with a view to the council coming into being in June or July this year.
My right hon. Friend is encouraged that the horticultural industry has responded in this positive way to the Government's policy that industry should contribute to R and D from which it benefits and very much hopes that other sectors of the agriculture industry will follow this lead.