§ Queen's Recommendation having been signified—
§
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That for the purposes of any Act of the present Session to enlarge the functions of the Commission established under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and to make provision as respects the countryside it is expedient to authorise the payment out of money provided by Parliament of any payments by way of allowance to members of any committee concerned with Wales or Monmouthshire.—[Mrs. White.]
§ 3.53 p.m.
§ Mr. David Gibson-Watt (Hereford)I should like to refer to the Money Resolution in the very narrow sense in which it has to be discussed. It is being changed this afternoon to make special provision for the payment by Parliament of certain moneys to certain people working for the Commission in Wales.
We shall not oppose the Money Resolution, but I must point out that during the passage of the Bill we were debarred from asking for a separate Commission for Wales because of the restrictive nature of the Money Resolution. We would have liked the Money Resolution to have gone further. Indeed, as I think is known by the Government Front Bench, we would have liked to have had a separate Commission for Wales.
I hope later to be able to move a new Clause and an Amendment to the Countryside Bill, and I shall seek then to show where we think the Government have gone wrong in this matter.
§ 3.54 p.m.
§ The Minister of State, Welsh Office (Mrs. Eirene White)I intervene only because the hon. Gentleman has done so. The main argument which arises can best be dealt with when we are discussing various new Clauses to the Countryside Bill. I hope that the House will welcome the Money Resolution, which extends the purview of the Bill in a way which makes possible further developments in the Principality. I shall reserve the argument of substance for later in our discussions.
§ Question put and agreed to.