AGRICULTURAL MARKETING [MONEY] (No. 2). (Hansard, 21 March 1933)

§ Mr. T. WILLIAMS
Perhaps the Minister of Agriculture will tell us why we have to have two Money Resolutions. I notice from the wording of this second Resolution that the Board of Trade may incur certain expenditure in imposing restrictions on the importation of certain 253 agricultural products. The Bill has been before Parliament for a fortnight, and the Department have now discovered that they may want payment for certain work they may be called upon to do. I should like to know what estimate has been made as to the expenditure which may be incurred in restricting the imports of all sorts of agricultural commodities, and also what expenditure may be incurred in regulating the sales of any agricultural products produced in the United Kingdom. If the Treasury is to be called upon to meet such expenses it is almost equivalent to compounding a felony. We are going to incur certain expenses in restricting imports, and by doing so increase the profits of importers and stabilise vested interests; yet the Money Resolution indicates that the Treasury is to be called upon to meet these expenses. I hope the right hon. Gentleman will give us the estimate in both cases, tell us whether the Treasury will meet the bill, or whether the importers or any other body of traders, will be called upon to refund any expenses incurred in restricting the importation of commodities.

§ Major ELLIOT
The only reason why we have not put in any sum is that, so far as we can see, it is practically a negligible amount. We have been unable to form any estimate of the cost; indeed, we do not think that any expenses will be incurred. Still, it is just possible that some expenses may be incurred in the case of restrictions which are already operating, but up to the moment no extra expenditure has been incurred in connection with these schemes. The staffs are in existence and information as to the stocks in cold storage is obtained voluntarily by the Board of Trade. It may be that some expenses will be incurred in printing forms; but we are unable to put down any figure. I hope that no expense will be incurred under this particular Resolution.

§ Mr. T. WILLIAMS
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his explanation, but if imports arrive from Canada, Russia, Germany, Lithuania, Poland and Denmark, negotiations will have to be undertaken in each case and, therefore, the staffs will not be adequate to deal with them, as it must be assumed that their normal duties occupy their full time. 254 Assuming that there may be extra staff employed for conducting these bargainings, the expense may be slight, but will the Treasury bear the expenditure or will they invite the importers, who are going to make tremendous profits out of this Bill, who are going to make fortunes for nothing out of it, to meet any slight expenditure which may be, incurred?

§ Major ELLIOT
The hon. Member will realise that it is undesirable that expenses incurred in investigations as to the making of these fortunes should fall upon the makers of these fortunes. We wish to pay the expenses, because we wish to have the power to call the tune. Question put, and agreed to.