§ 83. Mr. HURDasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether tenants of agricultural holdings who have depreciated the value thereof by ploughing up permanent pasture at the instance of a County War Agricultural Committee are liable at the termination of their tenancy to recompense the landlord for the value of the stored-up fertility thereby taken out of the land; and, if so, what action he proposes to take to remove the penalty so held over the heads of tenants in the way of indemnifying them against such claims or otherwise?
Sir A. BOSCAWENSection 2 of the Courts (Emergency) Powers Act, 1917, relieves a tenant who breaks up pasture under compulsory directions issued under the Defence of the Realm Regulations from liability for any breach of his contract of tenancy which is attributable to compliance with such directions.