(1)Orders under this Act may empower any inspector authorised by the Ministry—
(a)in the case of any specified pest which has been introduced into Northern Ireland, to take the following action, that is to say—
Head (i) rep. by 1984 NI 2
(ii)generally to take such steps as he may think expedient in connection with any crop, or any seed, plant or part of a seed or plant, for preventing the spread of the pest;
Para. (b) rep. by 1984 NI 2
and may impose in respect of any certificate given in pursuance of the order after an inspection such fee or other charge as the Ministry, with the consent of the Ministry of Finance, may prescribe.
(2)The Ministry may pay compensation to be ascertained in accordance with subsection (3) in respect of any crop, or any seed, plant or part of a seed or plant, which is removed or destroyed by or under the instructions of an inspector authorised by the Ministry.
(3)For the purpose of ascertaining the compensation payable under subsection (2), the value of the crop or of the seed, plant or part of a seed or plant shall in each case be taken to be its estimated value if harvested and marketed under normal conditions in an average year after deducting the estimated cost of such harvesting and marketing to the owner, and the Ministry may, if it thinks fit, require such value to be ascertained by its officers or by arbitration.
(4)The Ministry may, if it thinks fit, withhold compensation if, in relation to the crop or the seed, plant or any part of a seed or plant, the owner or the person having charge thereof has, in the opinion of the Ministry, done anything in contravention of, or failed to do anything in compliance with, any order under this Act.
(5)The expenses of the Ministry in the execution of this Act, including any compensation under subsection (2), shall be paid out of moneys provided by Parliament, but shall not without the consent of the Ministry of Finance exceed[F1 £3,000] in any year.
F11984 NI 2