§ 24. Mr. Murtonasked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources, upon what criteria he decided to introduce the Land 16 Commission Bill before the proposed legislation to set up a Countryside Commission.
§ Mr. WilleyBecause my right hon. Friends and I considered the former more urgent.
§ Mr. MurtonWill not the Minister agree that he has a very strange sense of priorities in these matters?
§ Mr. WilleyNo, I would not agree, and the country shares my view.
§ Mr. Graham PageIs not this another example of where useful and desirable Government services are being cut down to bring in such doctrinaire bodies as the Land Commission, taking up all the available civil servants?
§ Mr. WilleyNo. The electorate showed pretty definitely what the priorities should be.
§ Mr. AllasonWill the Minister tell us how he arrives at the decision that the country supports him? None of his back-benchers support him, and no professional opinion supports him.
§ Mr. WilleyPublic opinion does support us.