HL Deb 23 November 1983 vol 445 cc335-6WA
Lord Stanley

of Alderley asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will list those organisation which are invited to nominate persons to become arbitrators on the Lord Chancellor's panel constituted in accordance with Schedule 6 to the Agricultural Holdings Act 1948; and how many persons on the current panel are nominees of each of the organisations.

The Lord Chancellor (Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone)

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is invited to provide nominations to the panel of arbitrators. Two hundred and twenty-four persons are on the current panel.

Lord Stanley

of Alderley asked, Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are prepared to consider nominations to the Lord Chancellor's panel of arbitrators constituted in accordance with Schedule 6 of the Agricultural Holdings Act 1948 from organisations representing farmers and landowners; and if not, why not.

The Lord Chancellor

Farmers and landowners are the parties at arm's length to the disputes which are subject to these arbitrations. Arbitrators nominated by organisations representing these interests would not be seen to be impartial.

Lord Stanley

of Alderley asked, Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they vet nominations to the Lord Chancellor's panel of arbitrators constituted in accordance with Schedule 6 of the Agricultural Holdings Act 1948; and, if so, whether they will state what criteria are applied.

The Lord Chancellor

Nominations to the panel are scrutinised by the presidents of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers and the Incorporated Society of Valuers and Auctioneers; and are provided to the Lord Chancellor through the Royal Institution. Arbitrators are predominantly Chartered Surveyors, who are persons found in practice to have the experience and qualities which fit them for appointment.

Lord Stanley

of Alderley asked, Her Majesty's Government:

How many cases of nominations to the Lord Chancellor's panel of arbitrators constituted in accordance with Schedule 6 to the Agricultural Holdings Act 1948 have been rejected in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

The Lord Chancellor

None.