HC Deb 09 October 1941 vol 374 c1123
48. Sir W. Smithers

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether compensation will be paid for arable land taken over by the War Office or the Royal Air Force for cultivations or only if the seed has been sown?

Mr. Hudson

Where agricultural land is requisitioned under the Defence Regulations compensation is payable under Section 2 of the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939. Such compensation includes payment to the person in occupation of the land at the time of taking possession, of a sum equal to the amount which might reasonably have been expected to be payable by an incoming tenant for cultivations, seeds, tillages, growing crops and other similar matters.

Sir W. Smithers

Will the right hon. gentleman make the position quite clear, especially in Wiltshire and in the Wylye Valley scheme, because the uncertainty is stopping the ploughing-up of essential land for winter wheat?