§ 2. Mr. Snowasked the Minister of Agriculture whether notice was given by any official of his Department to Mr. Simpson, of Chase Terrace, Staffordshire, of the intention to concur with the Staffordshire Local Education Authority in the transfer from agricultural use to educational building use of Bridge Cross House Farm, bearing in mind his undertaking to the hon. Member for Lichfield and Tamworth that owner-occupiers of farms, as opposed to tenant-occupiers, would always be informed of such intentions.
§ Sir T. DugdaleI think the hon. Member is under some misapprehension. As I explained in a letter to him of 29th September, 1952, it is not the practice of my Department in these cases to tell either owners or occupiers of agricultural land what views are expressed to planning authorities. The hon. Member may have in mind the arrangements for notifying owners or occupiers of the existence of planning proposals. These arrangements were started in February, 1952. and so did not apply to this case.
§ Mr. SnowI think the right hon. Gentleman is misinformed. While we must bear in mind the serious needs of the local education authority concerned, is the Minister aware that this matter arose only five months ago? The owner had in fact sold the farm and no notification was given by the Land Commissioner to the then existing owner in strict 541 contravention of the Department's Circular AMS 1952/5.
§ Sir T. DugdaleThat is true; I did check up this morning on the letter I sent. The point is that our function is purely advisory. The decision is taken by the planning authority and not by us. That is the real point.