Improvement of Livestock (Licensing of Bulls) Act, 1931 (Hansard, 29 March 1965)

§ Mr. John Mackie

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given him on 22nd December last.

The function of referees under the Improvement of Livestock (Licensing of Bulls) Act is to consider appeals by owners against refusal, revocation or suspension of a licence by the Minister. The Act provides that where application is made for a referee's inspection the Minister shall select one or more members from the panel of referees. This panel is appointed on the recommendation of "such agricultural associations and cattle breeding societies as the Minister thinks it expedient to consult"—in practice the Breed Societies and National Farmers' Union. Where refusal or revocation is on veterinary grounds the referee is selected from a panel nominated by the British Veterinary Association.

The duties of referees, and the Minister's action on receipt of their reports, are also laid down in the Act: a referee must inspect the animal concerned and report to the Minister the result of his inspection; his report must contain recommendations that the refusal, revocation or suspension, as the case may be, shall be confirmed or withdrawn. Under Section 6 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1944, a referee must, besides inspecting the animal, consider any information as to its breeding that may be given to him. On receipt of the referee's report the Minister is obliged to confirm or withdraw the refusal, revocation or suspension of licence, or modify the suspension, in accordance with the referee's recommendations.

The referees are thus the arbitrators between owners and the Minister and both are bound by their decisions. The system is accepted as equitable by the livestock industry and complaints are very rare. I can see no case for a further appeals procedure to settle differences between owners and referees.