HC Deb 04 August 1919 vol 119 cc7-8
23. Lieut.-Colonel M. WILSON

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether under the Agriculture and Fisheries (Councils, etc.) Bill, 1919, powers would be obtained to enable the Board to deal with cases of river pollution which had an adverse effect on fresh-water fish?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir Arthur Boscawen)

No, Sir. The Bill does not confer on the Board any new powers in the direction mentioned by my hon. Friend.

Lieut.-Colonel WILSON

May I ask whether the hon. Gentleman does not think that such powers should be conferred, and whether he would accept favourable Amendments which would give the Board such powers?

Sir A. BOSCAWEN

I think it may be necessary to afford such powers. I am not quite certain that they would be conferred better upon the Board of Agriculture or upon the Board of Trade, but in any case, they would not really be germane to this particular Bill.