COMPENSATION ARBITRATORS. (Hansard, 28 November 1922)

§ LORD ASKWITH

My Lords, I beg to move for a Return showing the names Of persons appointed as special arbitrators for England and Wales, and for Scotland, under the Acquisition of Land (Assessment 82 of Compensation) Act, 1919, and with respect to each, his salary and term of office, the number of cases determined in each financial year or part since his appointment, and the amount of the fees paid or payable to the Exchequer in respect thereof.

The Acquisition of Land (Assessment of Compensation) Act was passed in August, 1919, and therefore there has been considerable time during which there has been a fair chance to ascertain the methods of work and the number of cases determined under it. In Committee of this House on July 31 of that year there was considerable debate, during which difference of opinion was expressed regarding the special arbitrators to be appointed under the Act. The discussion was as to whether they should be whole-time arbitrators or not. Finally, the Act laid it down that they should be whole-time arbitrators. It was stated that they would have a great deal of work to do, and that their salaries would, be about £3,000 a year. Difference of opinion existed as to whether there would be many cases to Le determined under the Act, but the then Lord Chancellor stated that he believed the number of cases to be tried and pronounced upon by the arbitrators would be very great indeed. A Return of the kind for which I now move would enable ordinary persons to see what money has been expended under the Act, and whether these special arbitrators have had so many cases as to justify their devoting the whole of their time to the work, and being pa id the salary which has been mentioned. I beg to move.