HL Deb 26 June 1934 vol 93 cc134-6
VISCOUNT ASTOR

My Lords, I rise to ask the noble Earl who represents the Ministry of Agriculture a question of which I have given him private notice—namely, to ask the noble Earl if he will agree to the complete publication of the Report or communications received in connection with the deliberations of the Committee appointed in April by the Government to consider the Hops (Amendment) Scheme. I think it is important that we should have this Paper or these Papers before us. This Committee has sat for nearly three months, indicating a great divergence of opinion, and I think it is very important, before Parliament is expected to discuss this Scheme, that it should know all the results of the deliberations of this Committee. The Scheme, if passed, would have most important consequences. It would create a precedent for Parliament—

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (VISCOUNT HAILSHAM)

My Lords, if the noble Viscount will forgive me, I do not think it is in order to make a speech under the guise of asking a question. It may be convenient, if slightly irregular, to put a question at the beginning of business, but it is not in order to make a speech which might call for an answer.

VISCOUNT ASTOR

I was only venturing to explain the importance of publication because in another place yesterday the Government did not feel able to agree to the publication of the Reports or Papers received.

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (EARL DE LA WARR)

My Lords, the Government fully appreciate the desire of your Lordships that the fullest possible information on this subject should be made available. I have discussed the matter with the Minister of Agriculture, who has decided in view of the interest which is being shown in both Houses of Parliament that it is desirable that the Report should be published in full. This will be done as soon as possible, and I hope the Report will be available to your Lordships to-morrow.

VISCOUNT ASTOR

May I ask the noble Earl whether there has been any dissenting or qualifying note, and if so will this be published also?

EARL DE LA WARR

The Report is a unanimous Report, and the whole Report will be published.

VISCOUNT ASTOR

Including any dissenting or qualifying note that may have been sent in?

EARL DE LA WARR

I have not had notice of that question, and I really prefer not to answer it, except that I definitely say the Report will be published in full, and if the noble Viscount wants anything further from me I am quite prepared to get that information.

VISCOUNT ASTOR

Should there have been any dissentient note the noble Earl agrees to publish it?

EARL DE LA WARR

No, I did not say that. I have not had notice of this particular question. I was given notice of a specific question which I have answered. The noble Viscount has raised another point which I am quite prepared to enquire into and give him a reply. I do not wish to reply at the moment for fear of being inaccurate.

LORD PONSONBY OF SHULBREDE

May I ask, in connection with this rather unexpected question, whether the opportunity for discussion of this Order is going to take place in another place first and then here, or whether it is to be discussed here first?

VISCOUNT HAILSHAM

I am afraid I also shall have to have notice of that question. What I understood my noble friend Viscount Astor desired was an assurance that the Report should be published before your Lordships were asked to discuss it. I have not ascertained any comparative time table as between this House and another place, and I shall have to enquire into that before I can give a definite answer, but one thing I can do is to assure your Lordships it will not be discussed in this House this week.

VISCOUNT ASTOR

I do not wish to take up time, but I have asked the noble Earl whether if there was a dissentient note it would be published? I am not sure if he has agreed to do that or not.

EARL DE LA WARR

No, but since the noble Viscount has asked me the question the information I have been able to obtain is that there is no dissentient note.

VISCOUNT ASTOR

No qualifying note?

EARL DE LA WARR

So I am informed.