§ Amendment reported (according to Order).
§ LORD BLEDISLOEMy Lords, while acknowledging the effort made by the noble Lord to meet my criticisms of Clause 5 (2)—a subsection which I think your Lordships will agree was originally couched in drastic language calculated to give to the head of the Government quite unprecedented powers, extending in effect to scrapping the whole measure if so chosen—I am bound to say that the words introduced by him in rather a hurry by an Amendment yesterday do not quite meet the case which I put forward. I ask the Minister whether he will kindly consider the possibility of inserting, by way of amendment on Third Reading, other words to be moved either by myself, or, as I hope, by him. To my mind, even with the Amendment introduced yesterday, it is still left to the Minister for the time being to use his own discretion —or, indeed, his caprice—to tear up this measure or any part of it.
Under Clause 7 (2) the Minister may issue Regulations generally for the purpose of carrying the measure into effect, and those Regulations have to be laid before both Houses of Parliament before becoming 665 operative. Yet, curiously enough, in the case of Regulations which could have the effect of scrapping the Act altogether there is no necessity for laying them before Parliament. It occurs to me that the right way to meet the case would be to make the subsection which renders it necessary to submit to Parliament the Regulations dealing with the carrying of the Bill into effect extend to all Regulations, including the offending Regulations to which I refer. That may or may not be the right method, but the noble Lord is satisfied that something further ought to be done, and I am confident to leave it in his hands to move something on Third Reading to meet the point.
§ THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (Loan LEE OF FAREHAM)My Lords, as I said yesterday, I quite agree that the subsection as drafted is open to a good deal of criticism, and in endeavouring to meet the objections which were then put forward I suggested, as my noble friend has said, rather on the spur of the moment, certain words which are now incorporated in the subsection. But on looking at them, and having had the privilege of discussing the matter with him outside, I agree that the question probably requires a little further consideration. Therefore, I will certainly accede to his request and, between now and Third Reading, I will put a suggestion on the Paper for amending this particular subsection. I hope it will be in a form which will meet all the objections he has made. I do not propose to ask your Lordships to take the Third Reading of this Bill before Wednesday next, and I will endeavour to put the Amendment on t he Paper this week in order to give ample time for its consideration. I hope that will be a satisfactory arrangement.
§ LORD STRACHIEDoes the Minister of Agriculture mean that he intends to consider whether he can adopt the suggestion of my noble friend Lord Bledisloe that the provisions under Section 7, subsection (2) shall have effect as regards the Regulations made under Section 5. It seems to me to be very desirable that all Regulations, especially those regarding 666 exemption, should come before both Houses of Parliament. Were that done there could be no possible objection to the clause as it stands. The noble Lord did not intimate whether he was inclined to follow those lines or to give any consideration to the suggestion which was made by the noble Lord.
§ LORD LEE OF FAREHAMI hope to consider all relevant matters. But, as I said, I have not had time to consider the point now. I wish for an opportunity to do so. Obviously, I cannot commit myself as to the particular line I propose to follow.