§ 56. Mr. Goochasked the Minister of Agriculture how many cottage certificates were granted by W.A.E.Cs. during 1945; and how many applications were refused.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsIn the 28 counties for which information is at present available, 387 applications were granted and 225 were refused. I will write to my hon. Friend in a few days when I have returns from all Committees.
§ 57. Mr. Goochasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that large numbers of ordinary cottage tenancies are being turned into tied cottages by the process of securing certificates from the W.A.E.Cs.; that the cottages are required for the proper working of the farm; and will he establish a court of appeal, to which cottage tenants threatened with eviction can apply, and in the cases of farmers threatened with dispossession of their farms.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsThe number of cases in which cottages are occupied on a service basis, after the owners have obtained possession by applying to the courts with certificates from War Agricultural Executive Committees, is not known. The answer to the second part of the Question is: No, Sir. The granting of orders for possession under the First Schedule to the Rent and Mort gage Interest Restriction (Amendment) Act, 1933, is a function of the courts, and I have no power to arrange for appeals from their decisions.
§ Mr. GoochIs it not a fact that the farmer threatened with dispossession has three chances in connection with his own case, but that in the case of a tied cottage tenant he has only one chance?
§ Mr. WilliamsI am sure my hon. Friend is in error. When a farmer applies to a county executive for a certificate for the possession of a service cottage, there is a panel consisting of one agricultural worker, one farmer and an independent chairman chosen by them to decide whether a certificate should be granted.