§ MR. CHANNINGI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether Her Majesty's Government will take into consideration expressions of opinion from Chambers of Agriculture and others interested to the effect that the attempt to amend both the Agricultural Holdings Acts for England and for Scotland in the same amending Bill is likely to make the resulting legislation a source of litigation; and that the proposed legislation by reference, retaining portions of the old Acts and interpreting those retained portions by the terms of the new Bill, will also led to confusion and litigation; and whether Her Majesty's Government, instead of proceeding with the present Bill, will bring in immediately after the Easter Recess separate Bills amending and consolidating the English and Scottish Acts respectively.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURSo far as the Government have been able to form an opinion there is a general desire, subject to consideration of points of detail, that the Bill is question should be passed into law at the earliest possible date. Consolidation is doubtless desirable, and the Bill has been framed with that object in view.
§ MR. CHANNINGWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the course adopted in the case of an equally controversial Bill—the Housing Act of 1890, and, if he is unable to follow the example then set, will he give an assurance that the policy of consolidation will be ultimately adopted by the Government?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOUROne object of this Bill, as I have said, is to consolidate.