§ Order read for resuming adjourned Debate on Question [15th April],
§
"That this House doth agree with the Committee in the Resolution,
That it is expedient to authorise the payment out of moneys to be provided by Parliament, of salaries or remuneration to official valuers appointed under any Act of the present Session to amend the Law as to the Assessment of Compensation in respect of land acquired compulsorily for public purposes and the costs in proceedings thereon.
§ Question again proposed.
§ The PRESIDENT Of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Fisher)When the Attorney-General moved the Financial Resolution on this Bill the right hon. Gentleman (Sir D. Maclean) urged the Government to circulate a White Paper before the question came up again on Report, and the Government acceded to that request. The White Paper was sent to be printed last Friday but owing to delays in printing it is not yet in the hands of hon. Members. I am informed that it will be available at half-past four to-day. I very much regret that this delay has taken place and I hope the House will accept the apology of the Government. I am, however, in a position to state to the House the very few relevant facts and figures which will appear in the White Paper. It is proposed that the valuers to be appointed under the terms of this Bill shall be eight in number, and that they shall receive a salary of £3,000 a year.
§ Sir D. MACLEANMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether he proposes to take the Vote to-day in view of the fact which he has just announced that the White Paper will not be available till half-past four? That being so, he is only able to make a preliminary statement for which we are much obliged, but if he proposes to go on with the Vote, seeing that we can only get the White Paper at half-past four, I should strongly object.
§ Mr. FISHERI am, of course, in the hands of the House in this matter, and I certainly do not propose that we should take the Report stage of the Resolution if there is any desire for further considera- 1386 tion, but I have already given the House all the facts and figures that are in the White Paper. Under the circumstances if my right hon. Friend objects we will postpone the Report stage.
§ Colonel WEIGALLWhat security do these valuers have? We are told that they are to have a salary of £3,000 a year. For how long are they to have it? They cannot go back to their own work when this is done. What is to be their position?
§ Mr. FISHERThe terms of the appointment of the valuers will be a matter for discussion on the Bill. All that arises on the Financial Resolution is simply that they are to have a salary of £3,000 a year.
§ Motion made, and Question "That the Debate be now adjourned"—[Mr. Fisher]—put, and agreed to.
§ Debate to be resumed To-morrow.