§ Mr. COURTHOPEasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether, on the second reading of the Weeds and Agricultural Seeds (Ireland) Bill he will accept an instruction to the Committee to extend the scope of the Bill to the United Kingdom?
The VICE-PRESIDENT of the DEPARTMENT Of AGRICULTURE (IRELAND) (Mr. T. W. Russell)The Bill in question has been drafted to meet the special conditions of agriculture in Ireland, and it would appear, from the answer given on behalf of the President of the Board of Agriculture to the question of the hon. Member for South Buckinghamshire, that the Bill could not be extended to England and Wales without considerable modifications; and I have also learned that it would be opposed. My only hope of getting the Bill passed during the present Session lies in the fact that so far as Irish Members are concerned it is unopposed.
§ Mr. STANIERasked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the Board are proposing to bring in a Bill on the lines of Part II. of the Weeds and Agricultural Seeds (Ireland) Bill?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYIn view of the opinions expressed by the Departmental Committee of 1900, over which Lord Onslow presided, it must be very doubtful whether legislation on the lines suggested 1093 is required so far as Great Britain is concerned, but we propose to take steps during the recess to ascertain the views of representative agricultural organisations on the subject. The question of the cost of administration and of whether the work should be done by the central or local authorities will also require to be carefully considered.