§ Lords Amendment: No. 31, in page 81, line 22, at end insert "in Northern Ireland".
§ Mr. HoyI beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.
By this Amendment a Member of the Northern Ireland Parliament would be disqualified only from taking an appointment as a member of a rural development board in Northern Ireland. He would be able to accept an appointment to a board in Great Britain.
It seems preferable that this should he made clear in the Act, rather than by an Order in Council setting up a board in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. GodberI rise to thank the hon. Gentleman for this most important Amendment. All of us, and particularly my hon. Friends from Northern Ireland, wish to know precisely where we stand in regard to this matter.
I rise also to say to the Minister, on this last Amendment, that we are grateful for the assistance which has been given in regard to a number of Amendments. He has done something to ameliorate his earlier position. We congratulate the right hon. Gentleman on having got his Bill, and we hope that it will prove of some real help.
§ Mr. PeartI thank the right hon. Gentleman for what he has said. I thank, too, all those who have contributed to the Bill. It has been a long journey, and many people have played their part in seeing it through. I am grateful to everyone for having done so.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Committee appointed to draw up Reasons to be assigned to the Lords for disagreeing to certain of their Amendments to the Agriculture Bill; Mr. Godber, Mr. Hoy, Mr. Mackie, Mr. Peart and Mr. Stodart; Three to be the quorum.—[Mr. Peart.]
§ To withdraw immediately.
§ Reasons for disagreeing to certain of the Lords Amendments reported and agreed to.
§ To be communicated to the Lords.