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Public Corporations (Crichel Down Rule)

Volume 808: debated on Thursday 17 December 1970

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Q9.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will instruct Ministers to issue directions to public corporations within their responsibility that the Crichel Down rule shall be applied in all cases of disposal of agricultural land which formerly had been requisitioned or compulsorily purchased.

I have been asked to reply.

I do not think that it would be appropriate to issue directions. If, as I understand, my right hon. Friend has in mind particular points concerning British Rail, perhaps he would care to draw them to the attention of my right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport Industries.

Is it not inequitable that a citizen should be deprived of the protection of the Crichel Down rule if land which is compulsorily purchased or requisitioned comes into the hands of a nationalised industry or public corporation?

So far as I can gather, the Crichel Down procedure would not have covered the cases which my right hon. Friend has in mind. This is a matter which we are prepared to consider, but I ask my right hon. Friend to be kind enough to take it up in the first instance with my right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport Industries.