HC Deb 11 September 1941 vol 374 cc301-3
56. Sir John Mellor

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will instruct war agricultural executive committees that they should, when giving notice to a farmer that they propose to recommend that he be dispossessed of his land, communicate in writing to the fanner particulars of any bad husbandry or other matters alleged in support of the recommendation?

Mr. Hudson

In many instances a proposal to dispossess an occupier is preceded by the giving of explicit directions by the executive committee requiring the occupier to remedy the deficiencies in the cultivation of the land. Whether this be the case or not, the current instructions to executive committees are that before an application is made for my consent to dispossess an occupier, the farm should be inspected by representatives of the committee after due notice to the occupier and, if the committee come to an adverse decision, the occupier is given the opportunity of laying his case personally before the committee if he wishes to do so. I am satisfied that these arrangements are sufficient to ensure that no occupier is dispossessed without being fully informed of the reasons for the committee's action.

Sir J. Mellor

Before taking the serious step of depriving a farmer of his livelihood, should not full particulars of the matters complained of be put into writing and presented to him, before any question of dispossession arises?

Earl Winterton

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the action of the war agricultural committees has given general satisfaction?

Mr. Garro Jones

May I ask whether in those cases in which the farmer submits that his neglectful husbandry is due to lack of finance—as it is in numerous cases —he is given some facilities for financing the operations demanded by the committee before being dispossessed?

Mr. Hudson

Perhaps my hon. Friend will wait until I give the answer to the next Question on the Paper.

Sir J. Mellor

May I have an answer to my Supplementary Question?

57. Sir J. Mellor

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has authorized war agricultural executive committees in considering whether a farmer should be dispossessed of his land, to take into account the amount of capital at the farmer's disposal; and whether he will take steps to ensure that such cases shall be determined by reference to the farmer's experience, skill and energy, and not by reference to his financial position, a loan in suitable cases being made from public funds?

Mr. Hudson

War agricultural executive committees have been instructed to take into account, in considering how best to deal with cases of unsatisfactory farming, the possibility of helping those farmers who have experience, skill and energy but are short of capital, by providing goods and services on credit terms under the Agricultural Requisites Assistance Scheme.

Sir P. Hurd

Will my right hon. Friend say whether particulars will be given in writing to the dispossessed farmer of the reasons for which he is dispossessed?

Mr. Hudson

I have already replied to that question.

Mr. De la Bère

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of all that has gone on, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.

58. Sir J. Mellor

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the prevalent anxiety with regard to the absence of any right of appeal to an independent tribunal against recommendations by war agricultural executive committees that farmers should be dispossessed of their land; and whether he will consider establishing such right of appeal, subject only to the deposit by an appellant of a sum proportionate to the acreage involved, which sum to be liable to forfeiture in the event of the appeal tribunal declaring the appeal to be frivolous or intended solely to cause delay?

Mr. Hudson

I cannot usefully add to the replies which were given to similar Questions put to me by the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye (Sir G. Court-hope) on 27th March, and the hon. Member for Isle of Ely (Mr. de Rothschild) on 27th February.

Sir J. Mellor

Is not the present so-called appeal merely an application to the committee to reconsider its own decisions?

Mr. Hudson

No, Sir.