HC Deb 23 November 1920 vol 135 cc276-7

If the landlord or tenant of a holding at any time during the tenancy so requires, a record of the condition of, and the rights and interests of the parties in, the buildings, fences, gates, roads, drains, ditches, and cultivation of the holding shall be made by a person to be appointed in default of agreement by the Minister, and in default of agreement the cost of making any such record shall be borne by the landlord and tenant in equal shares.

Sir A. BOSCAWEN

I beg to move to leave out the words, "and the rights and interests of the parties in."

Here we are dealing with the record of the holding, and it is one really under Clause 10 to enable us to have a record of continuous good farming or continuous bad farming. In Committee it was found convenient, in addition to putting down the condition of the farm, such as fences, cultivation and so on, that there should also be specified the rights and interests of the parties in the farm. That is to say, if the tenant holds certain properties they should be specified in the record. At first I resisted the Amendment, but I finally accepted it, subject to it being re-drafted. All I am now proposing is to leave out the words, "and the rights and interests of the parties therein," and I shall afterwards propose the addition of further words which are on the Paper. Then I think we shall have a clear and comprehensive definition of rights and interests.

Lieut.-Colonel MURRAY

I am much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman for his explanation, but I would like to know is he quite clear that this will really cover the rights and interests of the parties.

Sir A. BOSCAWEN

I have taken the best advice I can, and I am told that the words I am proposing is a really exhaustive definition.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendment made: After the word "holding" ["the cultivation of the holding"], insert the words and if so required by the tenant a record of any existing improvements executed by the tenant or for which the tenant is, under Section seven of the Act of 1908, entitled to claim compensation, and of any fixtures or buildings which, under Section twenty-one of that Act, the tenant is entitled to remove."—[Sir A. Boscawen.]