HC Deb 19 February 1963 vol 672 cc318-9

7.30 p.m.

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

I beg to move, in page 3, line 40, at the end to insert: (5) Subsections (2) to (4) of this section shall have effect in relation to any application for registration under this section made before the commencement of this Act as if this Act had then been in force; and any registration before the commencement of this Act in pursuance of such an application shall be deemed to be registration under this section. Clause 5, which is concerned with the registration of fertiliser suppliers, is a means of giving officials of my Department access to fertiliser suppliers' books and records. As the Clause is drafted, the process of registering fertiliser merchants cannot be started before the Bill has been passed. On the other hand, we want to get fertiliser suppliers registered before the beginning of the Fertiliser Subsidy Scheme, 1963, so that the power given by subsection (1) of the Clause to confine the subsidy to purchases from suppliers can be used in that scheme.

Previous subsidy schemes have started on 1st July. On this basis, there would not be much time between the passing of the Bill and the starting of the new subsidy year to get everyone on the register who should be on it. That would be a sufficient reason for amending the Clause so as to enable the officials to get round and make a start on registering fertiliser merchants.

A further factor has come to light. We recently decided, in view of the altered practice of the trade in making its new price schedules and early delivery rebates operative from 1st June and not 1st July, to begin this year's subsidy scheme on 1st June so that we are on all fours with the merchant's fertiliser year. This means that we should have even less time in which to draw up the register if we waited until the Bill was passed before the beginning of their year. It is, therefore, even more essential that we should not have to wait until the Bill has gone through. The proposed new subsection does not apply to Northern Ireland, and therefore, a consequential Amendment to Clause 26 (4) will be needed. I recommend the Amendment to the House.

Amendment agreed to.