§ Considered in Committee.
§ [SIR E. CORNWALL, Deputy-Chairman, in the Chair.]
§
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That it is expedient to authorise the payment, out of moneys to be provided by Parliament, of the expenses of any council, committee, or sub-committee established, or of any fishery meeting convened, under any Act of the present Session, to provide for the constitution of councils and committees in connection with agriculture and fisheries, and to amend the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries Acts, 1889 to 1909."[Sir A. Boscawen.]
§ Sir D. MACLEANI have made inquiries at the Vote Office, and have been unable to obtain the White Paper either with regard to the Resolution now before the Committee or, I may add for the convenience of my hon. Friend opposite (Sir A. Boscawen), the next Order on the Paper.
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir A. Boscawen)May I say that I obtained the White Paper with reference to the Resolution for which I am responsible from the Vote Office an hour and a half ago?
§ Sir D. MACLEANI do not know whether the hon. Gentleman obtained it from the Vote Office or not, but two hon. Friends of mine have been there and they could not get one. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will go on to explain the Vote.
Sir A. BOSCAWENI can assure my right hon. Friend that I am very sorry he was unable to obtain the White Paper. I took special precautions to have it printed and circulated to-day, and I went to the Vote Office about an hour and a half ago and asked for it, and they gave it to me. I cannot understand why, if there was one available for me, there was not one available for other people. Perhaps it will be for the convenience of the Committee if I explain what is proposed in this Resolution. The Bill to which the House gave a Second Reading yesterday, without a division, proposes to set up a Council of Agriculture for England, another for Wales, an Advisory Committee for England and Wales, and also County Agricultural Authorities for each county. It is provided that the expenses incurred under the Act will be paid for by monies provided by Parliament. I have prepared a White Paper which shows, 466 giving an outside estimate, what the cost is likely to be. First of all, the expenses of the Councils of Agriculture and the Committee for Agriculture, including the travelling subsistence of the members, will cost together, as an outside estimate, allowing for a larger number of meetings in a year than we anticipate will be the case, £7,000. In addition to that, we make a special provision that, on the Allotments and Small Holdings Committee of the County Agricultural Authority, the travelling expenses and subsistence allowances of members representing allotment societies and small holders shall be paid. We are very anxious that on the Small Holdings Committee we may have actual, living small holders, and it is quite clear that they cannot attend unless their expenses are paid. We estimate that the cost of that, at the outside figure, will be £2,000.
Then there is the Clause which authorises the County Agricultural Committees to take steps in the development of rural industries and social life in the villages. It is anticipated that the only expense incurred there might be the appointment of an organiser in the county. I do not think it is in the least likely that every county will appoint an organiser, but I have estimated on the basis that every county will. If that is so, the total cost will be £30,000. Therefore, in the White Paper I have put in an estimate—although the Committee will realise it is quite impossible to make tin absolutely definite or accurate estimate at this stage —of £40,000. I should like to add that whatever expense is incurred will be under the control of the Treasury, and will come under the review of Parliament each year on the Vote for the Estimate for the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries. There will be no Supplementary Estimate for this year, as we do not anticipate that these new bodies will be set up in time to incur any expenditure in the current financial year. I think that gives all the information I have. This figure, which I have named, is the outside figure. I hope that the Committee, in view of the fact that the House passed the Second Reading of the Bill without a Division yesterday, will agree to the Financial Resolution.
§ Sir D. MACLEANI am much obliged to my hon. Friend for the statement he has made, which I think quite sufficiently covers the Resolution before the Com- 467 mittee. As to the complaint which I have just made, that I was unable to get a White Paper at the Vote Office, the Paper was there, but a mistake was made by the official. It has now been rectified, and copies have been found.
§ Resolution to be reported To-morrow.