HC Deb 20 March 1940 vol 358 cc2039-40
Lords Amendment

In page 25, line 17, leave out from "them" to "this," in line 19, and insert: or any question required to be determined by them under.

Sir R. Dorman-Smith

I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

4.42 p.m.

Mr. T. Williams

Some explanation might be given of this Amendment. Where a catchment board acting on the instructions of a war agricultural executive committee, produces a scheme for draining, it is quite proper for the owner of the land to be able to make submissions to the Minister. It is equally fair and reasonable to presume that where such observations are made to the Minister he would have to examine them and either to amend or leave the scheme as it was, according to his will or desire. Presumably, that is the only good point in the Amendment. What we ask is whether this procedure is likely to involve undue delay in the putting into operation of any drainage scheme that may have been produced by a catchment board. If the Minister assures us that that is not intended, we have no objection to the Amendment.

Sir R. Dorman-Smith

I cannot give any definite assurance, but we are not going to have any delay. It is only fair to the Minister to consider the objections of all concerned.

4.44 p.m.

Mr. J. J. Davidson (Glasgow, Maryhill); I should like some explanation. The Scottish Land Court has been set up to deal with the question of appeals until the Minister has taken steps as laid down in the Bill. The Minister deals with a particular landlord or landowner. The original purpose was that the appeal should be made to the Scottish Land Court on a question on which the Secretary of State for Scotland has taken action. Can the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland give us an indication of what is meant by the words "or any question requiring to be determined"? What will the other questions be, other than those laid down in the Bill?

Captain McEwen

I am not clear as to what the hon. Member is referring. The only place where the Land Court comes in, in the matter of arbitration, is in Clause 26, and I do not think it comes in as an arbitrament board in any matter except in dealing with that particular case under Clause 26. I am not quite sure what it is the hon. Gentleman is referring to.

Question put, and agreed to.

Remaining Lords Amendments agreed to.