§ THE MARQUESS OF LINCOLNSHIREMy Lords, I desire to ask the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture a Question of which I have given him private notice. He was good enough to inform me that he was prepared to make a statement with respect to the somewhat startling announcement concerning the Agriculture Act which appeared in the newspapers of this morning, and I would ask whether he can do so now
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARYOF THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (THE EARL OF ANCASTER)My Lords, no doubt noble Lords will have seen the announcement which was in the papers this morning, relating to the Agriculture 468 Act of last session, and I am authorised to make the following announcement: The Government have been carefully considering for sonic time past the operation of the Agriculture Act, and have come to the conclusion that the financial liability on the State under Part I of the Agriculture Act is more than the country can afford in present circumstances, and consequently that there is no alternative but to terminate at the earliest possible date the policy guaranteeing minimum prices for wheat and oats. This decision involves also the repeal of the provisions relating to minimum wages for agricultural workers, and to the control of cultivation by the State which are contained in Part I of the Agriculture Act and in the Corn Production Act. I may add that payments will, of course, have to be made in respect of wheat and oats which will be harvested this year
§ THE MARQUESS OF LINCOLNSHIREMy Lords, there may be two opinions as to the wisdom of the course that His Majesty's Government have been pleased to adopt, but what I want to bring before your Lordships' House at once——
THE LORD CHANCELLORI do not know whether the noble Marquess proposes to ask another Question, or whether it will be your Lordships' pleasure that he should make any speech or observations. Such a course would be very much opposed to the practice of your Lordships' House.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LINCOLNSHIREOf course, I am in the hands of the House, but I think this is rather a new precedent to bring forward.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LINCOLNSHIREI have been a member of your Lordships' House for over half a century, and, on a Question, I have never known any opposition raised to any remarks being made Of course, I am entirely in the hands of the House, and if the Lord Chancellor says I am out of order I will not say another word.
THE LORD CHANCELLORI have no power to say that any noble Lord is out of order, nor would I ever take upon myself such responsibility, but I think that if the noble Marquess considers the matter he will take the view, which I 469 understand has had universal recognition here, that when a Question is asked by a noble Lord, who does not move any Motion, he does not, upon receiving the answer, proceed to make a speech
§ THE MARQUESS OF LINCOLNSHIREI repeat, that I am in the hands of the House. Of course, if the House—the noble Earl, Lord Crawford, who is leading the House, is present—says that I am not to be heard, I will not say another word, but I think that this is rather a new departure
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEThe noble Marquess is in error if he supposes that what the Lord Chancellor has just said involves a new departure. I have been for a long time a member of the House, and so far as my recollection serves me the House has never permitted debates to be raised on Questions asked before Business by private notice.
THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (THE EARL OF CRAWFORD)May I say, as the noble Marquess has appealed to me, that we have no desire not to hear what he wishes to say, but I am sure he will agree with me that there are many Peers interested in this subject as well as himself, who have had no notice of the Question, and obviously it would be better for everybody concerned that he should give due notice that he will discuss the matter, and other Peers will then take part in the discussion.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LINCOLNSHIREI am in the hands of the House, and to whatever the Leader of the House says I am prepared to bow. The Leader of the House suggests that. I should put down a Motion. With the permission of the House I will put down a Motion for to-morrow.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LINCOLNSHIREThe only reason why I want to raise it at once is the extraordinary procedure of the Government in not bringing a Question of this sort before the Houses of Parliament, but giving the information to private individuals. That is why I gave notice of my Question, on the distinct understanding that the usual practice would be allowed; 470 but Lord Lansdowne says that he has never known a debate on a Question by private notice before Business If that is so, I am, of course, dearly out of order, but I should like to put down a Motion for the earliest possible day
§ THE MARQUESS OF LINCOLNSHIREThen I will give Notice to move my Motion to-morrow.