§ 52. Major John Morrisonasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will publish a list by counties of those farms requisitioned by the W.A.E.Cs., together with their acreages and the total profit or loss on each farm.
66. Mr. Baldwinasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will publish a list by counties of the subjects requisitioned under Defence Regulation 51, and occupied and managed by the Department of Agriculture for England and Wales, or by agricultural executive committees; their acreage; and the accumulated profit or loss as at 30th November, 1944.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsThe preparation of a complete list of these farms, together with their acreages, will take a little time, but I will place such a list in the library as soon as possible. I am unable to give figures of profit or loss for the reason stated in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Evesham (Mr. De la Bère), on Monday last.
§ Major MorrisonCan the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that this will 28 be a full list, and will he say whether it will be in the Library within the next day or so?
§ Mr. WilliamsThe executive committees will have to compile their own lists, and the list is bound to take a few days before it is available, but it will be placed in the Library as soon as possible.
§ 58. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Agriculture by what authority the W.A.E.C. forcibly entered a farmer's field, particulars of which incident have been sent him; and what method of appeal is open to the farmer.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsThe Leicestershire War Agricultural Executive Committee entered and ploughed the field in question under powers conferred by the Cultivation of Lands Order (No. 2) 1940, the farmer having failed to plough the field in compliance with a direction given to him under Defence Regulation 62. Although there is no right of appeal against such a direction it is usual to give an opportunity for the farmer to object. In this case the farmer was informed that he should get in touch with his district committee if he wished to object, but he did not do so.
§ Sir W. SmithersWhile I agree that in, time of emergency a bad farmer should be brought to book, does the Minister recognise that under British law a fanner so treated should have right of appeal to an independent legal tribunal?
§ Mr. WilliamsMy hon. Friend must also remember that we are still living in a period of emergency, and that, in fact, the farmer was given the right to approach his district committee, but failed to do so.