16.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will announce details of the extension of the Horticultural Improvement Scheme.
My right hon. Friends hope to lay a draft Scheme before Parliament very soon after the Whitsun Recess.
Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the delay and uncertainty over this Scheme has already caused havoc in parts of the horticultural industry, including loss of crops? Will he see that his right hon. Friend in future refrains from making general propaganda statements, until he has some idea of what he is going to carry out?
There is no havoc, but there is certainly some concern until the scheme is made. We have been discussing this with the Farmers' Union, and I am certain that the hon. Gentleman would not want us to carry out a scheme without going through that procedure.