§ Brigadier-General CLIFTON BROWNasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the terms of the Land Utilisation Bill and the Agricultural Marketing Bill were considered by his Advisory Committee and the Agricultural Council of England as to their usefulness to agriculture; and, if so, what advice he received from these bodies?
§ Dr. ADDISONNeither of the Bills to which the hon. and gallant Member refers has been considered by the Agricultural Advisory Committee for England2322W and Wales. The Council of Agriculture for England considered the Agricultural Marketing Bill in its original form at its meeting on 31st October last, and I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy of the report on the subject by the Standing Committee, which was then adopted by the council. The amended form of the Bill as introduced to this House has not been formally considered by the council. The Agricultural Land (Utilisation) Bill was the subject of a resolution adopted by the council at its last meeting on 12th February to the effect that the Bill did not afford the agricultural industry the assistance which it now urgently requires and that, if the money to carry out its provisions be available, it should be used for some other purpose more useful to the industry.