HC Deb 21 December 1908 vol 198 cc2375-6
MR. COCHRANE (Ayrshire, N.)

I beg to ask the hon Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he has any report as to the quality and quantity of the harvest of cereals in the West and South-West of Scotland for the current year, and how the crops compare in quantity and quality with the previous three years.

CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W., for Sir EDWARD STRACHEY)

In the West of Scotland, from Inverness northwards, the yield of barley in 1908 was estimated at about one and a half bushels per acre above the average of the preceding three years, that of oats two and three quarter bushels above. In the South-West, wheat yielded half a bushel more than the average of three preceding years, barley two and a half more, and oats two and a half more, per acre. The quality of the grain in the West this year is generally reported to be good, and would appear to be better than on the average of the past three years. In the South-West, the Reports as to quality are not so favourable.

MR. COCHRANE

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the President of the Board of Agriculture in reply to a deputation from South-West Ayrshire congratulated the Members on the abundant harvest.

MR. SPEAKER

The hon. Member should give notice of that.

Message to attend the Lords Commissioners.

The House went; and the Royal Assent was given to a number of Acts. (see page).

And afterwards His Majesty's Most Gracious Speech was delivered to both Houses of Parliament by the Lord High Chancellor (in pursuance of His Majesty's Commands).

Then a Commission for proroguing the Parliament was read.

After which the Lord Chancellor said:

My Lords and Gentlemen,

By virtue of His Majesty's Commission, under the Great Seal, to us and other Lords directed, and now read, we do, in His Majesty's Name, and in obedience to His Commands, prorogue this Parliament to Tuesday the Sixteenth day of February, one thousand nine hundred and nine, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Tuesday, the Sixteenth day of February one thousand nine hundred and nine.

End of the Third Session of the twenty-eighth Parliament of the United Kingdom and Ireland in the Eighth Year of the Reign of His Majesty King Edward VII.