HC Deb 21 March 1933 vol 276 cc250-2

Considered in Committee under Standing Order No. 71A.

[Captain BOURNE in the Chair.]

Motion made, and Question proposed, That, for the purpose of any Act of the present Session to provide for regulating the importation and sale of agricultural products and for organising the production of secondary agricultural products, to amend the law with respect to the marketing of agricultural products, and to make further provision in connection with the matters aforesaid, it is expedient to authorise—

  1. (a) the payment out of moneys provided by Parliament—
    1. (i) of any expenses incurred, in accordance with the provisions of the said Act, by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries or a Secretary of State in connection with the Market Supply Committee to be appointed under the said Act; and
    2. (ii) of any expenses incurred by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries or a Secretary of State, by virtue of the said Act, in connection with any Agricultural Marketing Reorganisation Commission or committee of investigation constituted or appointed under the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1931, as amended by the said Act of the present Session; and
  2. (b) the payment into the Exchequer of any sum which the board administering a scheme under the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1931, or a scheme under the said 251 Act of the present Session may, in accordance with the last-mentioned Act, have paid to the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries or a Secretary of State, being a sum certified to represent the expenses of any such Agricultural Marketing Reorganisation Commission attributable to the preparation of the scheme or to the investigation of any matter affecting the operation of the scheme."—(King's Recommendation. signified.)—[Major Elliot.]

6.26 p.m.

The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Major Elliot)

The Financial Resolution provides, as the Committee will see, firstly, that the Market Supply Committee shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament. Secondly, that expenses incurred by the Minister in connection with reorganisation commissions shall be paid for out of moneys provided by Parliament: I would point out that it is stated elsewhere in the Bill how these moneys are to be recovered. Thirdly, that committees of investigation shall be paid for out of moneys to be provided by Parliament. No power is taken to recover those expenses, as clearly it is desirable that the investigators of such a scheme should not look to the authors of the scheme as its paymasters. These are the objects of the Financial Resolution, and as the matter was fully debated in the House this week, and last week, I hope that it will be possible for the Committee to let us have the Resolution.

6.27 p.m.

Mr. T. WILLIAMS

We have no desire to hold up this matter after having had two really good, tip-top days' Debate on the subject of agricultural marketing. I would like, however, to ask the right hon. and gallant Gentleman, before the money Resolution is carried, who would pay any expenses incurred by the Consumers' Committee in investigating, on behalf of bodies interested in the consumers, the effect of any order or a number of orders restricting imports for the special purpose, as the right hon. and gallant Gentleman clearly explained, of increasing prices? The expenses of development boards and investigating committees are to be met by moneys provided by Parliament and ultimately repaid by the Marketing Control Board. The only committee not referred to in the Financial Resolution is the Consumers' Committee, and I should like the right hon. and gallant Gentleman to inform us whether, when the Consumers' Committee has been appointed and expenses have been incurred in carrying out their duties, the expense will be met?

6.28 p.m.

Major ELLIOT

I will answer the hon. Gentleman immediately. That matter remains under the 1931 Act, and consequently, as we have not altered that Act in any way, the expenses are paid by the Treasury. We have taken power to recover the expenses of the Reorganisation Commission, which are now recoverable, but we have not taken power to recover the expenses of the Consumers' Committee, which remain due to be paid for under provisions already made by this House.

Resolution to be reported To-morrow.