HC Deb 18 October 1949 vol 468 cc521-4

Considered in Committee under Standing Order 84 (Money Committees).—[King's Recommendation signified.]

[Mr. BOWLES in the Chair]

Motion made, and Question proposed, That, for the purposes of any Act of the present Session to make further provision as respects the New Forest in the county of Southampton, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of moneys provided by Parliament—

  1. (a) of the expenses of the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries under the said Act;
  2. (b) of any increase in the sums payable out of such moneys under Part I of the 522 Local Government Act, 1948, being an increase attributable to the provisions of the said Act of the present Session conferring functions on a highway authority other than the Minister of Transport;
  3. (c) of any increase in the sums payable out of such moneys, being an increase attributable to provisions of the said Act of the present Session involving payments out of the Road Fund;
and to authorise the payment into the Exchequer of the receipts of the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries thereunder in so far as they accrue under the provisions of the said Act of the present Session relating to enclosures for cultivation and improvement of grazing."—[Mr. T. Williams.]

Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre

I do not want to delay the Committee, but I asked the right hon. Gentleman a question about the sum of £1,500 a year. Perhaps it would be convenient for him now to answer.

Mr. T. Williams

I am sorry that I omitted to answer that question. If the hon. and gallant Member looks at the top of page iv of the Financial Memorandum, he will find that it reads as follows: The additional cost of maintenance of the Forest as provided in Clause 11; estimated at an average of £1,500 per annum. Some of the work is already carried out by the Forestry Commissioners as part of the normal management of the Forest, the cost being met out of the Forestry Fund. The point about the £1,500 is that it is purely an estimate, as it must be. It may well be that in some future year when, perhaps, a large drainage undertaking might be carried out, the cost might be double this figure or even more. This is an estimated rather than an actual figure, since in a matter of this kind nobody can get nearer than an estimate.

Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre

As it was part of my question, may I ask why in evidence in another place—and it was not challenged—the average cost was given as £3,000 a year? How is it it now appears as £1,500 a year? I do not see where the 50 per cent. cut has taken place, or for what reason.

Mr. Williams

The hon. and gallant Member cannot have read the words I have just quoted. This is an estimated additional cost.

Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre

I do not think the right hon. Gentleman has understood me. In another place evidence was given that the additional cost, exactly on the same basis as this, would be an average of £3,000 a year and the right hon. Gentleman is now putting in this memorandum £1,500 a year. I should like to know how the difference arose.

Mr. Williams

The hon. and gallant Member must know that the Forestry Commission have been spending £2,000 or £3,000 per annum. This £1,500 is additional to £2,000 or £3,000 per annum and not a reduction, and therefore it is not £1,500, but may well be £3,500, or even more.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolution to be reported Tomorrow.

ADJOURNMENT

Resolved: "That this House do now adjourn."—[Mr. Collindridge.]

Adjourned accordingl, at Twelve Minutes past Five o'Clock.