§ 19. Mr. CAUTLEYasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Corn Production (Provisional) Regulations, 1921, have been laid before the Houses of Parliament; and, if not, will he explain why?
Sir A. BOSCAWENIt is regretted that by inadvertence the Provisional Regulations referred to by the hon. Member were not laid before Parliament. These Regulations were made under Section 2 of the Rules Publication Act, on account of urgency, and notice that they had been made was given in the "London Gazette" of the 12th April.
§ Mr. CAUTLEYCan the right hon. Gentleman tell me what urgency there is in demanding a return from every occupier of land of the number of labourers, men and women, employed on that land?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe Act under which the returns are made prescribes that we are entitled to obtain a return in writing with reference to the cultivation of the land, the crops and the livestock thereon. You cannot cultivate the land without labour, and, therefore, it is necessary that we should have a return of the number of labourers employed.
§ Mr. CAUTLEYMy question was, What is the urgency? Why were not these Regulations laid before Parliament in the usual way, as required by Section 12 or 15 of the Act.
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe urgency was simply that these Regulations were made for the purpose of obtaining the returns on 4th June last, on which day they are made up annually.