HC Deb 11 November 1941 vol 374 cc2099-100

Lords Amendment: In page 7, line 9, leave out "value which it would have had at the date of the notice to treat," and insert: price which a willing seller would, at the date of the notice to treat, have been likely to obtain in the open market for the land.

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr. R. S. Hudson)

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

This is in effect a drafting Amendment to bring out more clearly the intention as to the basis of compensation where land is acquired. In effect, it makes the basis of compensation when we acquire land the same as the basis when we resell land.

Question put, and agreed to.

Lords Amendment: In page 7, line 37, after "subject," insert "or might be made subject."

Mr. Speaker

This Amendment raises a question of Privilege, and the House can, of course, waive their Privilege if they like. I will have a record made of this in the Journals of the House.

Mr. Hudson

This is a drafting Amendment to make it clear that no common lands can be acquired under the provisions of this Clause. During the early Debates the hon. Member for Shipley (Mr. Creech Jones) expressed some doubt whether the original wording carried out this intention. The Amendment brings the wording into conformity with previous legislation, and it is understood that the Commons and Footpaths Preservation Society agree that the Clause as amended will carry out the intention of excluding all common lands.

Mr. Creech Jones (Shipley)

This is a technical legal point, and I would like to be assured that the Amendment does completely cover all the common lands which I mentioned in a previous Debate.

Mr. Hudson

I understand that the Society, which makes it its business to look after common lands and to prevent any encroachment on the rights to them, agrees that this Amendment does the trick.

Question put, and agreed to.