Mr. Jacksonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will announce the date for the transfer of responsibility for the appointment of agricultural arbitrators in England and Wales from Agriculture Ministers to the president of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
§ Mr. JoplingSection 8 of the Agricultural Holdings Act 1984 provides for the transfer of the Agriculture Ministers' current responsibilities for the appointment of agricultural arbitrators in England and Wales to the 139W president of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. I indicated during the passage of this legislation that the transfer would not take place for at least a year after Royal Assent. Following consultations with the president, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I are proposing to give effect to the transfer as from 1 January 1986. We have decided to announce this now so that the industry will have sufficient notice. I will be making a further statement relating to the detailed arrangements for the transfer towards the end of 1985. These arrangements will be fully discussed with the industry beforehand.
Three statutory instruments will be required to give effect to the transfer and these will be laid before Parliament during the autumn of 1985.