AGRICULTURAL LAND (UTILISATION) BILL. (Hansard, 28 July 1931)

§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Dr. Addison)

I beg to move, That the Lords Reason for insisting on certain of their Amendments disagreed to by this House, Lords Amendments in lieu of certain other of their Amendments disagreed to by this House, and Lords Amendment in lieu of an Amendment made by this House to one of their Amendments be considered forthwith. It will be convenient to the House if I state what is the result of the consideration by their Lordships of the Amendments which we dealt with on Friday. For the most part I am glad to say there is accord between the two Houses. Their Lordships, however, have insisted on their Amendment to leave out Clause 1 of the Bill by which we proposed to set up a large-scale farming Corporation. They have agreed to our modifications of the demonstration farms in Clause 2, and I am glad to say they have accepted the whole of our proposals relating to the reclamation of land and dealing with neglected land in Clause 3 and the necessary following Clauses. Their Lordships have also agreed to withdraw the Amendment which authorised county councils in the judgment of this House, to place, shall we say, a veto 2248 on the prosecution of smallholding enterprises, and it has been agreed that the Ministry shall consult. I am glad to say their Lordships have also agreed with this House not to insist upon their deletion of Clause 10, which authorises the Minister to provide smallholdings where county councils have failed to do so. The result is that in this agreement we can truly say the way is now open, for the first time in England, for any man who is unemployed, or is an agricultural labourer or an ex-service man, to be provided with an opportunity of cultivating a smallholding. The other point of difference between us was the limitation of time in which the Bill should operate. I suggested 10 years and their Lordships suggested seven. I said finally that I was willing to compromise on eight, and it, therefore, results in the whole Bill being restored with the exception of Clause 1. Therefore, while I believe their Lordships will come to regret their action in the deletion of Clause 1 which I submit is a far-sighted and necessary provision, I do not advise the House to throw away this opportunity for an advancement in agriculture owing to that event. Therefore, I shall propose that we do agree with their Lordships.