HC Deb 28 July 1937 vol 326 cc3111-2W
Sir G. Fox

asked the Attorney-General whether he will submit to the High Courts the question whether commercial and competitive activities now carried on by the Ministry of Agriculture in connection with the operations of the poultry disease research station at Weybridge are permissible under Sub-section (3) of Section 2 of the Board of Agriculture Act, 1889, in view of the wording of such section, which only empowers the Board to make or aid in making such inquiries, experiments, and research, and collect or aid in collecting such information as they may think important for the purpose of promoting agriculture or forestry?

The Attorney-General

I have made some inquiries into this matter and I do not think any legal question arises with regard to what is being done. In any event my hon. Friend's question is based on a misunderstanding of my relations with Departments of State so far as proceedings in the Courts are concerned.