Orders of the Day — Agricultural Marketing Acts.

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons am ar 26 Gorffennaf 1935.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Mr Walter Elliot Mr Walter Elliot , Glasgow Kelvingrove

No. As this is a point to which I have given a great deal of consideration, I would like to put it to the House as it appears to me. The words "if and when authorised by Act of Parliament" had to be inserted because the Act of 1933 was not yet law. That authorisation has since been given by the Act of 1933 "subject to the provisions thereof". The Act of Parliament which is referred to in the old paragraph (b) is the Act of 1933, which makes it possible for regulation of quantity to take place "subject to the provisions thereof", which means subject to an affirmative order voted by both Houses of Parliament. That is the present safeguard which the consumers and the public have, and it remains untouched by the Amendment which I am asking the House to accept. This is only a provisional power, and the present scheme is subject to the provisions of the Act of 1933. I think that the hon. Gentleman was a little confused, as I was, by the words "if and when authorised by Act of Parliament", because it might well appear that a special Act of Parliament had to be passed to authorise it. It is not so. The Act of Parliament which was envisaged there, and which has since been passed, is the Act of 1933. The safeguard of the House and of the public is an affirmative order under that Act, and that order has still to be passed under the Amendment which is now proposed.