§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (THE EARL OF ANCASTER)My Lords, this Bill makes it compulsory on farmers and occupiers of land to make returns, in order that the statistics of agriculture shall be reliable and up to date. The Bill is framed substantially on the same lines as Section 15 of the Corn Production Act, 1917, which enabled the Agricultural Department to require statistical Returns, in order to obtain such information as is necessary for the proper exercise of the powers under that Act. The section necessarily disappeared when the Corn Production Act was repealed, and statistical returns are now collected on a voluntary basis. I may say that there is no present intention of altering the form of the Returns, but in any case the House retains control over the form, as any Regulation regarding it has to be laid before Parliament. I hope your Lordships will give the Bill a Second Reading, because it is of great importance that the agricultural statistics should be of a reliable nature.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(The Earl of Ancaster.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.