HC Deb 21 February 1967 vol 741 cc257-8W
Mr. Maxwell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement of the Government's proposals for improved compensation of agricultural tenants displaced for development purposes.

Mr. Peart

The Government intend to introduce as soon as possible legislation to provide for special additional compensation payments, at the rate of four years' rent, to be made to a tenant farmer who is displaced for development, forestry or any other non-agricultural purpose, whether he is displaced by a private landlord or a public authority. The new proposals will give an effective minimum of five years' rent as compensation, or in some circumstances up to six years' rent compared with 1–2 years' rent now payable under the Agricultural Holdings Acts. My right hon. Friend asks me to make clear that these provisions will also apply in Scotland.

It is proposed that the new provisions should apply to notices served on tenants after the day the Bill is introduced pro- vided the tenancy does not terminate before the Royal Assent. In the meantime, Government Departments, New Town Corporations and other public authorities will be asked to have regard to the proposed level of compensation, making use where appropriate of the discretionary powers under Section 22 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1963, or Section 38 of the Land Compensation (Scotland) Act, 1963.