§ 42. Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number of cases in which rent arbitrators have been appointed under the Agricultural Holdings Act, 1948, for the latest available 12-month period; and what is the average increased rent awarded.
§ The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. John Hare)In the year ended 28th February, 1957, my predecessor appointed arbitrators to deal with rent under Section 8 of the Agricultural Holdings Act, 1948, in 164 cases; in 25 of these agreement was later reached between the parties and there was no award. In the 133 cases for which full particulars are available, the average rent awarded (to the nearest shilling) was 41s. per acre, and that before arbitration was 29s. per acre, making an average increase of 41 per cent. No reliable figures are available for cases where the arbitrator was appointed by agreement between the parties.
§ Mr. WilleyThough I appreciate the figures which the Minister has given us, I should be glad to know whether he shares the general satisfaction with these rent arbitrations?
§ Mr. HareI am asked by the hon. Gentleman whether I share the general satisfaction. No; I think that these arbitrators are working under great difficulties and that their instructions are not really sufficiently clear.
§ 43. Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the survey of agricultural rents will be completed.
§ Mr. John HareI am informed that the Department of Estate Management at Cambridge hopes to publish its Report this year.
§ Mr. WilleyWill the Minister assure the House that the Government will not take any action in regard to rents until the Report is received, and that they will 28 reconsider their present proposals in the light of that Report?
§ Mr. HareI am sure the hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well that the purpose of the survey is to collect information about the level of farm rents. This information cannot really affect the purpose of any amendents which we might be contemplating to clarify the statutory guidance to rental arbitrators.
Mr. T. WilliamsHow can the right hon. Gentleman contemplate legislation on rents until he knows the actual result of the survey, which, he says, may be completed during this year, eleven months hence? Surely, the result of the survey ought to be had prior to the preparation of any legislation?
§ Mr. HareNo; as I tried to point out to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey), these are two different operations. The survey is to collect information about the level of rents. The amendments to the directions to arbitrators which we may have in mind are merely to clarify their statutory guidance.
§ Mr. WilleyWill the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that the proposals he will make will not affect the level of rent?