HC Deb 26 January 1948 vol 446 cc656-7
53. Mr. Hurd

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will arrange for one officer of each county agricultural executive committee to be responsible for hastening the issue of permits to enable essential repairs to farm buildings to be carried out without delay; and if he will call for monthly progress reports.

Mr. T. Williams

Committees do not themselves issue licences for building work, and I assume that the hon. Member has in mind steps to expedite the handling of applications referred to Committees for investigation. In a recent circular Committees have been urged to avoid delay in dealing with applications, and I do not feel that any further instructions from me are necessary at the moment.

Mr. Hurd

Would it not greatly help if one responsible officer of each committee piloted these permits all the way through, not only through the Ministry of Agriculture, but through the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Supply, who are holding them up?

Mr. Williams

We have already allowed county executive committees to sponsor applications for up to £1,000 instead of up to the previous limit of £500, and the Provincial Land Commissioners may now sponsor applications up to the value of £3,000. Since thus 98 per cent. of the applications are covered, few or none will have to go to the regional officer.

Mr. Hurd

But nothing else happens afterwards.

Mr. York

What the Minister says may or may not be true. [HON. MEMBERS: "Order."] I am not saying anything derogatory. Shall I put it another way? [HON. MEMBERS: "Yes."] Accepting the Minister's remarks, may I ask him whether he is aware that the difficulty in this matter is the length of time taken for the applications, in the sponsorship or any other business connected with them, to get through the various committees? Is he aware that it generally takes anything from three weeks, as a minimum, up to six weeks? [HON. MEMBERS: "More."] No, I think that is about the time. Does not the right hon. Gentleman think he can do something on the lines suggested to get over this?

Mr. Williams

I am fully aware that the large number of applications being received by county executive committees does involve some delay, but the only possibility of reducing that delay would be to increase the number of people employed having the duty to examine each application. I am satisfied that the new arrangement will expedite applications.

Mr. York

No, it will not. Could not the right hon. Gentleman give district officers, and, in certain cases, county executive officers, the power in certain urgent cases to give the necessary permission or approval, and then to get the approval endorsed by the county committee later?

Mr. Williams

Then we should have to set up some other person to decide what was a very urgent case.