§ Question proposed, That the Clause stand part of the Bill.
§ Mr. Cledwyn Hughes (Anglesey)I wish to ask a question about compensation under Clause 3. When the Under-Secretary spoke on Second Reading, he said that negotiations in relation to the compensation were then proceeding with the commoners, that the commoners had appointed a surveyor with whom officials 504 of his Department were negotiating. I should like to know whether the hon. Gentleman is able to report any progress in the negotiations. Can he give us something more than the estimate of £1,500 which is mentioned in the Explanatory Memorandum? The sum is small enough in all conscience, if the estimate is an accurate one, and £1,500 divided between over 200 commoners will not give them very much compensation in respect of the rights which they have lost. I hope that the Under-Secretary will also be able to tell the Committee that the commoners in Anglesey will not have to wait a long time for their money.
§ Mr. RidsdaleI can assure the hon. Gentleman that the commoners will not have to wait a long time for their money, and, if it will help to clarify the position, I should like to say that the current position is that, until the Bill has been passed, it is not possible for the statutory committee of conservators to be appointed to agree the compensation. To enable discussions to be opened and the amount of compensation to be provisionally agreed, a non-statutory committee of conservators representing the parishes concerned with the common has been set up, as the hon. Gentleman knows.
This committee has appointed a valuer to conduct the negotiations with the Air Ministry's representative. There has been one meeting with the valuer appointed by the commoners to negotiate on their behalf, and, after considering his brief, he has told us that he is now ready to continue the negotiations. There will, I hope, be another meeting very shortly, and we shall try to reach agreement with him as quickly as we can, but it is not necessary for agreement to be reached before the Bill is enacted. I hope that will satisfy the hon. Member for Anglesey (Mr. C. Hughes).
§ Mr. C. HughesI am much obliged to the Under-Secretary. May I ask him one other question on a quite separate matter relating to subsection (1, b)? It is stated in the Explanatory and Financial Memorandum:
It is not possible to forecast the incidence, if any, of disputes over title which will need to be referred to conveyancing counsel of the High Court, and thus expenditure under this provision cannot be assessed. It is not, however, expected to be very great.505 Can the Under-Secretary tell the Committee whether he thinks there will be, or are likely to be, any disputes over title under this Clause?
§ Mr. RidsdaleAgainst the possibility that there may be disputes over questions of title before the compensation is finally agreed, provision has been made for such disputes to be referred to one of the conveyancing counsel of the High Court and for the Secretary of State to bear the costs. Counsel's costs will be allowed for that purpose, and I trust that this provision will satisfy the constituents of the hon. Gentleman. I think it is a very fair and quick way of dealing with any disputes that may arise.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Clause ordered to stand part of the Bill.