§
Clause 6, page 11, line 6, at end insert:
(" Provided that no holding shall be provided under this section unless the council of the county report to the Minister in writing in respect of each holding that a person possessing in the opinion of the Minister the qualifications mentioned in paragraph (c) of this subsection may reasonably be expected to earn a livelihood on that holding.")
§ The Commons disagree to the above Amendment for the following Reason:
§ Because it would render the successful operation of the clause impracticable.
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAM moved that the House do not insist on their Amendment in page 11, line 6, but propose the following Amendment in lieu thereof:
§
Page 11, line 6, at end insert:
Provided that, before acquiring land in any county for the purpose of providing small holdings thereon under the powers conferred by this section, the Minister shall consult the county council as to the localities in which land suitable for the purpose can be obtained.
§ The noble and learned Viscount said: My Lords, I have an addendum to move, and that is that on page 11, line 6, we insert at the end the words printed on the Paper. I really developed what I had to say a little earlier. The original proposal we made was to give county councils a veto. The Minister has refused to accept that. I think it is important that county councils should be taken into the Minister's confidence, that he should avail himself of their local knowledge, and that the Bill should expressly provide that the Minister should at least consult them beforehand as to the localities in which there is land suitable for the purpose. I do not think it would do, as I originally thought, to provide that the Minister should consult the county council about each particular plot of land before he buys it, because if the Minister tells too many people that he is going to buy a particular plot of land it is not always very economical for the taxpayer, but I think he should consult the county council as to where small holdings can best be situated in the county. Therefore, I propose that we should not insist on the veto originally inserted, but that we should insert this proviso. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the House doth not insist upon the said Amendment, but proposes an Amendment in lieu thereof.—(Viscount Hailsham.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to: the original Amendment not insisted upon and the new Amendment agreed to accordingly.