HC Deb 12 May 1892 vol 4 cc703-4
MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to a letter in the Daily News of the 12th April, signed "A Revenue Officer," regarding the collection of Agricultural Returns without remuneration by Revenue officers, and stating that many competent and zealous Revenue officers have been punished or dismissed for failing in this duty; and whether he will cause such inquiry to be made into the means of collection of such statistics, or suspend the collection of these Returns by Revenue officers until provision can be made by Parliament enabling the police and overseers, as being the best qualified agents, to perform the duty efficiently?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN,) (who replied) St. George's, Hanover Square

In reply to the hon. Member, I may refer him to my answer of 26th February to the hon. Member for North Roscommon. When special remuneration for the collection of these statistics ceased, a new and improved scale of salary was introduced, which was considered sufficient to cover this duty as well as all other duties demanded from Revenue officers. As regards the last part of the hon. Member's question, I would refer him to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Agriculture on 25th February.

MR. CONYBEARE

In view of the great dissatisfaction this question is causing both to the farmers and to the Revenue officers, I wish to know whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the officers have great difficulties placed in the way of collection of these Returns, because, when they step on the farmers' land, they are treated as trespassers? Being unable to obtain the Returns from the farmers, who are not compelled by law to fill up the schedules, the officers have to fill up the Returns by guess-work. Therefore they are valueless.

MR. GOSCHEN

I believe the President of the Board of Agriculture is, on the whole, satisfied with the preparation of these Returns. Of course, it is a question whether it would not be desirable to make the return compulsory. The matter is one of some difficulty, however.

MR. CONYBEARE

I am not satisfied with the matter, although the right hon. Gentleman appears to be. I wish to ask whether he would have any objection to this collection being transferred to the Department of the Minister for Agriculture. As the right hon. Gentleman (Mr. Chaplin) is not in his place, I give notice that I will put a similar question to him when he is here.