HC Deb 02 April 1962 vol 657 cc19-20
22. Mr. Jeger

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will set up a committee to examine all landlord and tenant legislation as it affects farmers, and to make recommendations.

Mr. Soames

No, Sir. I am not aware of any general demand for such an inquiry.

Mr. Jeger

Is the Minister not aware that tenant farmers are getting very worried because arbitrators are settling rents in accordance with the current market values which in times of land scarcity are very inflated? Will he not re-examine this question with a view to values being expressed more in terms of the economic rent to a good farmer?

Mr. Soames

Arbitrations are settled on the basis of a willing landlord letting a farm to a willing tenant. That is the test which the arbitrator applies. Rents are decided by arbitration in respect of about 3 per cent. of the farms. The fact that the rents are very high reflects the very high demand for farms at the present, and presumably reflects considerable confidence in the future of agriculture in this country.

Mr. Jeger

Will not the Minister reconsider the matter in the light of the fact, which is generally known from all the property publications, that a high price is now being demanded for farms because of City speculators, who are not necessarily good farmers, investing their capital in them? This puts good tenant farmers at a disadvantage.

Mr. Soames

I do not accept that the value of any major proportion of straight farming land is affected by City speculators.

Mr. Peart

Is the Minister not aware that there is concern about this matter? Surely he has read the discussions of farming conferences. Has the N.F.Uade representations?

Mr. Soames

Of course, there is concern on the part of sitting tenants that they should not have their rents raised—I appreciate that. I have not had any representations made to me by the N.F.U.