§ 34. Mr. Wigleyasked the Attorney-General whether he is satisfied that those appointed to sit on agricultural land tribunals have sufficient knowledge of the 440W and perinatal mortality rates for Cornwall, the South West Region and England and Wales, respectively; and what proportion of confinements in these three areas takes place in hospital.
§ Mr. DeakinsIn 1974 the figures were as follows:
contemporary problems facing working farmers; and if he will take steps to facilitate agricultural unions in nominating persons for such tribunals.
§ The Attorney-GeneralMy noble Friend the Lord Chancellor is responsible for appointing to each of the eight agricultural land tribunals—seven for England and one for Wales—legally qualified chairmen and three panels of farmer, landowner and land drainage members respectively. Except when hearing a case under the Land Drainage Act 1961 a chairman sits with one farmer member and one landowner member. My noble Friend is required to select persons to be placed on the panels of farmer members from nominations made at his request by persons appearing to him to represent the interests of farmers, and these nominations are made by the officially recognised National Farmers' Union of England and Wales, which has all necessary facilities for the purpose. My noble Friend is satisfied that these members have sufficient knowledge of the contemporary problems facing working farmers.