45. Mr. Vaneasked the Prime Minister whether he will arrange that in cases where a public inquiry is held with a view to compulsory purchase of agricultural land by a Government Department, a representative of the Department concerned shall be called before the inquiry to give his evidence and be subject to cross-examination.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee)I am assuming that the Question refers to the attendance at these inquiries of a representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Such representation is unnecessary since adequate arrangements exist to obtain the views of other Government Departments who may have an interest in such an acquisition before the Order is made.
Mr. VaneDoes the Prime Minister think that it is fair that Departmental views, in particular views of the Ministry of Agriculture under these circumstances, should be given to the acquiring Department in private, while those of other interested parties are given in public and open to cross-examination?
§ The Prime MinisterI think it is right that when a Government proposal is put forward the views of all the Departments should be ascertained and the thing agreed before it is put to the inquiry.