§ Mr. LAMBasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the National Agricultural Council was consulted in regard to the repeal of Part I of the Agriculture Act, the repeal of the so-called embargo on Canadian cattle, and the introduction of the Agricultural Wages Bill; and what was the advice given by the Council and the decision taken in regard to such advice by the Government in each case?
§ Mr. BUXTONThe hon. Member's question indicates some misconception as to the position of the council. It was not established as a body to be consulted on questions of Government policy, that place being filled by the statutory Agricultural Advisory Committee. The council is a representative body, wholly independent of the Ministry, which regulates its own procedure and is free to discuss any subject relating to agriculture which is brought before it by any member. The council has not discussed or given any advice on the first and third of the subjects mentioned in the question, but on the second subject resolutions against the importation of Canadian store cattle were passed at three meetings of the council. The late Government did not 753W feel able to adopt the views of the council on that subject.
§ Mr. LAMBasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been directed to a report, which was approved at the last meeting of the National Agricultural Council of England, in which it was stated that that council does not claim, and never has claimed, to voice the authoritative opinion of agriculturists, and that the members of the council merely express their own personal opinions on the matter discussed by the council; whether it is intended to circulate this report to the agricultural committees of county and borough councils, so that these committees may know that the members of the council whom they have delegated to represent them do not voice the opinions of agricultural committees at meetings of the council but their own personal opinions; what has been the total cost of the council since its inception, including travelling expenses, hotel expenses, and secretarial and clerical assistance; and what is the estimated cost for the current financial year of the council and its standing committee?
§ Mr. BUXTONMy attention has been called to the Report to which I gather the hon. Member refers. The Report will, as recommended by the Council of Agriculture for England, be circulated to those county councils whose agricultural committees have not yet filled the vacancies that have recently arisen in accordance with their statutory duty. The cost of the Council of Agriculture for England, including any committees other than the Agricultural Advisory Committee, has been as follows:
£ 1920–21 … (approximate) 250 1921–22 … (approximate) 1,000 1922–23 … 441 1923–24 … 660 The cost during the present financial year is estimated at £2,000.