§ Mr. Iain Millsasked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that the system of arbitration in farm rental disputes using estate agents as arbitrators allows objective arbitration.
§ Mr. WigginI am satisfied that the present system allows objective arbitration.
In the majority of farm rent disputes arbitrators are chosen by agreement between the parties, but when they cannot agree the Minister of Agriculture may be asked by either party to make an appointment from the Lord Chancellor's panel of arbitrators. Those chosen are from the principal professional bodies in the field and are experienced in landlord and tenant matters. Their professional training and standards of conduct, and their agricultural experience, make them well qualified to carry out the task with integrity and impartiality.