HC Deb 07 April 1927 vol 204 cc2266-7
60. Mr. BUXTON

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give the number of parish councils which have provided common grazing land, and the approximate total acreage provided?

The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Guinness)

I regret that I have no information as to the number of parish councils which have provided common grazing land. To obtain this it would be necessary to circularise over 12,500 authorities.

Mr. BUXTON

Will the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to obtain some approximate figure?

Mr. GUINNESS

I do not think I should be justified in circularising 12,000 parish councils.

Mr. NOEL BUXTON

(by private Notice) asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the desire of the Standing Committee to which the Diseases of Animals Bill was referred to make some provision for the agricultural worker who loses his employment in consequence of the slaughter of animals under his care, and of the comparatively small sum which will be involved, he will take steps to move the necessary Financial Resolution so that Clause 5 of the Bill, either in its present form or with modification, may be retained.

Mr. GUINNESS

The arguments in favour of the proposed Amendment brought forward by the right hon. Gentleman in the Standing Committee did not convince me as to the merits of his new Clause, and I regret that I cannot see my way to accept his suggestion.

Mr. BUXTON

In view of the fact that the arguments were found convincing by a large number of supporters of the right hon. Gentleman and that the majority of the Committee were considerably in favour of the Clause, does the right hon. Gentleman not think it appropriate to take account of the wishes and the prevailing opinion of the Committee?

Mr. GUINNESS

Seeing that Mr. Speaker has ruled out of order the action of the Committee on that point, I do not think I ought to be very much influenced by it, and, if I were, it would merely be to circumvent one of the established constitutional safeguards under which a charge cannot be imposed on the taxpayer except on a Motion by a Minister of the Crown.