Captain COOTEasked the Minister of Agriculture whether is is aware of the grave delay in many instances of the final decision in cases of compulsory orders for the acquisition of land for small holdings; to what cause he attributes this delay; and whether it can in any way be obviated?
§ Sir R. SANDERSYes, Sir, the Ministry is aware that in some cases of compulsory acquisition of land for small holdings delay occurs owing to it being impossible for the Official Arbitrator appointed under the Acquisition of Land (Assessment of Compensation) Act, 1919, to arrange for the arbitration to be held immediately after the reference of the matter to him by the Reference Committee. The Ministry understands that the panel of Official Arbitrators under that Act consists at present of two persons for England and Wales, but the appointment of Official Arbitrators is not a matter which falls to be dealt with by the Ministry of Agriculture.