Agriculture Act 1947

1. Introductory Text

2. PART I Guaranteed Prices and Assured Markets.

   1. 1. Provisions for securing efficient agricultural production and proper agricultural conditions.

   2. 2. Annual and special reviews of condition of agricultural industry.

   3. 3. Variation of factors determining operation of arrangements for providing guaranteed prices and assured markets.

   4. 4. Power to supplement arrangements.

   5. 5. Provisions for enabling producers to plan ahead.

   6. 6. Power to vary scheduled produce.

   7. 7. Orders under Part I.

   8. 8. Interpretation of Part I.

3. PART II Good Estate Management and Good Husbandry.

   1. 9. Duties of good estate management and good husbandry.

   2. Rules of good estate management and good husbandry.

      1. 10. Good estate management.

      2. 11. Good husbandry.

   3. Supervision Orders.

      1. 12. Power of Minister to supervise estate management and husbandry.

      2. 13. Changes of owner or occupier effected without approval of Minister not to invalidate supervision orders.

   4. Directions to secure good estate management and good husbandry.

      1. 14. Directions to secure good estate management and good husbandry.

      2. 15. Supplementary provisions as to directions.

   5. Dispossession of owners or occupiers on grounds of bad estate management or bad husbandry.

      1. 16. Dispossession on grounds of bad estate management.

      2. 17. Dispossession on grounds of bad husbandry.

      3. 18. Power of Minister to take possession where occupier dispossessed and no other arrangements made.

      4. 19. Power of tenant or landlord to apply for dispossession of owner or occupier under supervision.

   6. Supplementary.

      1. 20. Service of notices on agents.

      2. 21. Interpretation in Part II of references to " owner " and " manager " ; and registration of certain owners, trustees, etc.

4. PART III Agricultural Holdings.

   1. Compensation to tenant for improvements and to landlord for deterioration.

      1. 22. Compensation to tenant for improvements, etc.

      2. 23. Measure of compensation for long-term improvements.

      3. 24. Consent of landlord or approval of Minister required for long-term improvements.

      4. 25. Measure of compensation for improvements, etc., in Fourth Schedule.

      5. 26. Reduction of compensation where grant received by tenant.

      6. 27. Claims not to be made for compensation based on custom.

      7. 28. Compensation for continuous adoption of special system of farming.

      8. 29. Compensation to landlord for deterioration of holding.

   2. Compensation for disturbance, and provisions as to notices to quit.

      1. 30. Compensation for disturbance.

      2. 31. Restrictions on termination by notice of tenancies of holdings.

      3. 32. Provisions as to notices to quit where holding agreed to be sold.

   3. Supplementary provisions as to compensation.

      1. 33. Extent to which compensation recoverable under agreements.

      2. 34. Transitional provisions as to compensation.

   4. Variation and ascertainment of terms of contracts of tenancy.

      1. 35. Variation of rent of holdings.

      2. 36. Variation of terms of tenancy as to permanent pasture.

      3. 37. Liability for repair, maintenance and insurance of fixed equipment.

      4. 38. Provisions for securing written tenancy agreements.

      5. 39. Supplementary provisions as to sections 37 and 38.

   5. General.

      1. 40. Restriction on letting agricultural land for less than from year to year.

      2. 41. Power of tenant to obtain charge on holding in respect of compensation.

      3. 42. Power of limited owner to apply capital moneys for improvements.

      4. 43. Power of landlord to enter on holding.

      5. 44. Provisions as to arbitration.

      6. 45. Minor and consequential amendments relating to Part III.

      7. 46. Construction, citation and application of Part III.

5. PART IV Smallholdings.

   1. Provision of smallholdings.

      1. 47. Duty of county councils to provide smallholdings.

      2. 48. Acquisition by smallholdings authority of land for smallholdings.

      3. 49. Power of smallholdings authority to provide fixed equipment, etc.

      4. 50. Lay-out and equipment of smallholdings to be carried out in accordance with scheme approved by Minister.

   2. Management of authorities' smallholdings.

      1. 51. General powers of smallholdings authority.

      2. 52. Letting of smallholdings.

      3. 53. Duty of smallholdings authority to manage in accordance with rules of good estate management.

      4. 54. Loans for smallholdings purposes.

      5. 55. Supplementary provisions as to management of authorities' smallholdings.

   3. Provision of smallholdings by the Minister.

      1. 56. Power of Minister to provide smallholdings.

      2. 57. Default powers of Minister.

   4. Financial provisions.

      1. 58. Contributions by Minister to losses incurred by smallholdings authorities.

      2. 59. Winding-up of Small Holdings and Allotments Account.

      3. 60. Accounts, etc., of smallholdings authorities.

   5. Supplementary provisions.

      1. 61. Constitution and functions of smallholdings committees.

      2. 62. Keeping of lists of smallholdings.

      3. 63. Annual reports of smallholdings authorities and of Minister.

      4. 64. Exercise, in relation to smallholdings, of powers of smallholdings authority to purchase, sell, let, exchange and appropriate land.

      5. 65. Application of Part IV to councils of county boroughs.

      6. 66. Definition of " smallholding.".

      7. 67. Application and repeal of provisions of Small Holdings and Allotments Acts, 1908 to 1931.

6. PART V ADMINISTRATIVE AND GENERAL.

   1. The Agricultural Land Commission.

      1. 68. Establishment of Agricultural Land Commission and Welsh Agricultural Land Sub-Commission.

      2. 69. Powers of Commission and Sub-Commission to hold inquiries.

      3. 70. Annual report of Commission.

   2. County Agricultural Executive Committees.

      1. 71. Establishment and functions of County Agricultural Executive Committees.

      2. 72. Delegation of functions of Minister to County Agricultural Executive Committees.

   3. Agricultural Land Tribunals.

      1. 73. Establishment, constitution and procedure of Agricultural Land Tribunals.

      2. 74. Proceedings before Agricultural Land Tribunal on reference of Minister's proposals.

   4. Supplementary administrative provisions.

      1. 75. Provisions as to land lying partly in one area and partly in another.

      2. 76. Dissolution of Councils of Agriculture, the Agricultural Advisory Committee and county agricultural committees established under 9 and 10 Geo. 5. c. 91.

   5. Statistics of Agriculture in Great Britain.

      1. 77. Agricultural Statistics Advisory Committees.

      2. 78. Power to obtain agricultural statistics.

      3. 79. Information as to dealings in land used for agriculture.

      4. 80. Restriction on disclosure of information.

      5. 81. Penalties.

   6. General powers of acquisition and management of land by Minister.

      1. 82. Powers of Minister to acquire land by agreement.

      2. 83. Acquisition by Minister of land for research, experiment and demonstration.

      3. 84. Acquisition of land by Minister to ensure full and efficient use thereof.

      4. 85. Power of Minister to retain possession of land in interests of agricultural production.

      5. 86. Control of subdivision of agricultural units.

      6. 87. Experimental schemes for readjustment of farm boundaries.

      7. 88. Transfer to Minister of land vested in other Government departments.

      8. 89. Transfer of land from Land Settlement Associations to Minister.

      9. 90. Powers of management, etc., of land acquired by Minister.

      10. 91. Repeal of sections 1 to 4 of 21 and 22 Geo. 5. c. 41.

   7. Provisions as to compulsory acquisition of land.

      1. 92. Procedure for compulsory purchase of land.

      2. 93. Compulsory hiring of land.

      3. 94. Limitation of period of compulsory hiring.

   8. Special directions to secure production.

      1. 95. Special directions to secure production.

   9. Continuation of contributions to cost of drainage, water supply and application of lime.

      1. 96. Continuation of grants for drainage of, and supply of water to, agricultural land.

      2. 97. Contributions towards cost of liming agricultural land.

   10. Pest and weed control.

       1. 98. Prevention of damage by pests.

       2. 99. Prevention of escape of captive animals.

       3. 100. Supplementary provisions relating to sections ninety-eight and ninety-nine.

       4. 101. Provision by Minister of equipment and services for pest control.

       5. 102. Destruction of injurious weeds.

   11. Supplementary.

       1. 103. Schemes for provision of agricultural goods and services.

       2. 104. Provisions as to representations.

       3. 105. Expenses and receipts.

       4. 106. Provisions as to entry and inspection.

       5. 107. Service of notices.

       6. 108. Regulations and orders.

       7. 109. Interpretation.

       8. 110. Repeals.

       9. 111. Short title, commencement and extent.

7. SCHEDULES.

   1. FIRST SCHEDULE

      Produce to which Part I of Act applies.

   2. SECOND SCHEDULE

      Provisions where permanent pasture directed to be ploughed up or other cultivations to be carried out.

      1. 1. Where the Minister gives to a person a direction under...

      2. 2. Where, in the case of an occupier who is a...

      3. 3. (1) Notwithstanding anything in the provisions of Part III of...

      4. 4. In relation to a direction under section fourteen or ninety-five...

      5. 5. Where the ploughing-up of permanent pasture or the carrying out...

   3. THIRD SCHEDULE

      1. PART I Improvements to which consent of Landlord required.

         1. 1. Making or planting of osier beds.

         2. 2. Making of water meadows or works of irrigation.

         3. 3. Making of watercress beds.

         4. 4. Planting of hops.

         5. 5. Planting of orchards or fruit bushes.

         6. 6. Warping or weiring of land.

         7. 7. Making of gardens.

      2. PART II Improvements to which consent of Landlord or approval of The Minister required.

         1. 8. Erection, alteration or enlargement of buildings, and making or improvement...

         2. 9. Construction of silos.

         3. 10. Claying of land.

         4. 11. Marling of land.

         5. 12. Making or improvement of roads or bridges.

         6. 13. Making or improvement of water courses, culverts, ponds, wells or...

         7. 14. Making or removal of permanent fences.

         8. 15. Reclaiming of waste land.

         9. 16. Making or improvement of embankments or sluices.

         10. 17. Erection of wirework for hop gardens.

         11. 18. Provision of permanent sheep-dipping accommodation.

         12. 19. Removal of bracken, gorse, tree roots, boulders or other like...

         13. 20. Land drainage (other than mole drainage and works carried out...

         14. 21. Provision or laying-on of electric light or power.

         15. 22. Provision of means of sewage disposal.

         16. 23. Repairs to fixed equipment, being equipment reasonably required for the...

         17. 24. The growing of herbage crops for commercial seed production.

   4. FOURTH SCHEDULE

      1. PART I Improvements in respect of which no consent required.

         1. 1. Mole drainage and works carried out to secure the efficient...

         2. 2. Protection of fruit trees against animals.

         3. 3. Chalking of land.

         4. 4. Clay burning.

         5. 5. Liming of land.

         6. 6. Application to land of purchased manure (including artificial manure).

         7. 7. Consumption on the holding of corn (whether produced on the...

      2. PART II Other matters in respect of which compensation payable to Tenant.

         1. 8. Growing crops and severed or harvested crops and produce, being...

         2. 9. Seeds sown and cultivations, fallows and acts of husbandry performed...

         3. 10. Pasture laid down with clover, grass, lucerne, sainfoin or other...

         4. 11. Paragraphs 8 to 10 of this Part of this Schedule...

   5. FIFTH SCHEDULE

      Applications for Certificates of Bad Husbandry.

      1. 1. An application to the Minister for a certificate under paragraph...

      2. 2. Any such application shall be made in the prescribed manner,...

      3. 3. Where such an application is made the Minister shall, after...

      4. 4. Where notice of a proposal is given or deemed to...

      5. 5. Where a holding forms part only of an agricultural unit,...

   6. SIXTH SCHEDULE

      Matters for which provision to be made in written tenancy agreements.

      1. 1. The names of the parties.

      2. 2. Particulars of the holding with sufficient description, by reference to...

      3. 3. The term or terms for which the holding or different...

      4. 4. The rent reserved and the dates on which it is...

      5. 5. The incidence of the liability for land tax and rates...

      6. 6. In respect of all work of maintenance and repair of...

      7. 7. A covenant by the landlord in the event of damage...

      8. 8. A covenant by the tenant in the event of the...

      9. 9. A power for the landlord to re-enter on the holding...

   7. SEVENTH SCHEDULE

      Minor and Consequential Amendments.

      1. The Agricultural Holdings Act, 1923.

         1. 1. For section six of the Act of 1923 (which provides...

         2. 2. Section eight of the Act of 1923 (which restricts the...

         3. 3. (1) The period within which notice in writing of the...

         4. 4. (1) Section twenty-two of the Act of 1923 (which provides...

         5. 5. Section twenty-five of the Act of 1923 (which requires that...

         6. 6. (1) In section twenty-seven of the Act of 1923, in...

         7. 7. In section twenty-nine of the Act of 1923 (which provides...

         8. 8. (1) In subsection (1) of section thirty of the Act...

         9. 9. The following section shall be substituted for section thirty-one of...

         10. 10. Section thirty-seven of the Act of 1923 (which provides for...

         11. 11. Section forty of the Act of 1923 (which confers on...

         12. 12. In section forty-one of the Act of 1923 (which relates...

         13. 13. In section forty-three of the Act of 1923 (which provides...

         14. 14. (1) Subject to the provisions of this paragraph, the functions...

         15. 15. Section fifty-two of the Act of 1923 (which makes special...

         16. 16. (1) In section fifty-three of the Act of 1923 (which...

         17. 17. Subsection (2) of section fifty-six of the Act of 1923...

         18. 18. In section fifty-seven of the Act of 1923 in subsection...

         19. 19. The period within which, in default of any extension thereof,...

         20. 20. The following provision shall be inserted after paragraph 7 of...

         21. 21. Without prejudice to the provisions of section forty-six of this...

         22. 22. (1) In the Third Schedule to the Act of 1923...

      2. The Rent and Mortgage Interest Restrictions Acts, 1920 to 1939.

         1. 23. The Rent and Mortgage Interest Restrictions Acts, 1920 to 1939,...

      3. The Law of Property Act, 1925.

         1. 24. (1) In section ninety-nine of the Law of Property Act,...

         2. 25. Where the operation of a notice to quit served under...

      4. The Hill Farming Act, 1946.

         1. 26. (1) Section nine of the Hill Farming Act, 1946 (which...

   8. EIGHTH SCHEDULE

      Provisions of Small Holdings and Allotments Acts Applied or Saved.

      1. PART I Provisions Applied.

      2. PART II Provisions Saved.

   9. NINTH SCHEDULE

      Constitution etc. of Commission, Sub-Commission, Committees and Tribunals.

      1. Agricultural Land Commission and Welsh Agricultural Land Sub-Commission.

         1. 1. Unless and until the Agricultural Land Commission (hereafter in this...

         2. 2. If at any meeting of the Commission the votes are...

         3. 3. Any contract or instrument which, if entered into or executed...

         4. 4. (1) The Welsh Agricultural Land Sub-Commission (hereafter in this Schedule...

         5. 5. Every member of the Commission and the Sub-Commission shall hold...

         6. 6. Any member of the Commission or the Sub-Commission who ceases...

      2. County Agricultural Executive Committees, Sub-Committees and District Committees.

         1. 7. (1) A County Agricultural Executive Committee shall consist of not...

         2. 8. The Minister shall designate a member of each County Agricultural...

         3. 9. (1) Subject to the provisions of this paragraph, the term...

         4. 10. A County Agricultural Executive Committee may add to any sub-committee...

         5. 11. A district committee shall consist of such number of members,...

         6. 12. A County Agricultural Executive Committee, sub-committee or district committee shall...

      3. Agricultural Land Tribunals.

         1. 13. (1) An Agricultural Land Tribunal shall consist of a chairman...

         2. 14. (1) The chairman shall be appointed by the Lord Chancellor...

         3. 15. The two members of an Agricultural Land Tribunal other than...

         4. 16. The assessors shall be selected by the Minister, for any...

         5. 17. (1) The Minister may by order direct that the foregoing...

         6. 18. Where provision is made for the sitting of an Agricultural...

      4. Disqualifications for appointment.

         1. 19. (1) A person shall be disqualified for being appointed or...

      5. Validity of acts.

         1. 20. (1) Any body mentioned in the last foregoing paragraph shall...

      6. Nomination of persons for appointment as nominated members.

         1. 21. (1) Where for the purpose of appointing nominated members for...

      7. Officers and servants.

         1. 22. (1) The Minister shall appoint a secretary and a chief...

      8. Remuneration and Expenses.

         1. 23. (1) The Minister may pay to members of the Commission,...

      9. Proof of Instruments.

         1. 24. Any document purporting to be a document duly executed or...

   10. TENTH SCHEDULE

       Combination of Counties for purposes of Agricultural Executive Committees.

       1. 1. Before making an order under subsection (2) of section seventy-one...

       2. 2. (1) Any order under the said subsection (2) shall be...

       3. 3. An order under the said subsection (2) may contain such...

   11. ELEVENTH SCHEDULE

       Application in relation to Mortgages and Charges of section 86 of Act.

       1. 1. Notwithstanding anything in subsection (3) of section eighty-six of this...

       2. 2. (1) Paragraph (a) of the said subsection (3) shall not...

   12. TWELFTH SCHEDULE

       Provisions as to schemes for adjusting Farm Boundaries of amalgamating Farms.

       1. Advertisement of References to Commission.

          1. 1. On referring any matter to the Agricultural Land Commission (hereafter...

       2. Preparation and confirmation of schemes.

          1. 2. (1) A scheme under section eighty-seven of this Act (hereinafter...

          2. 3. (1) Before submitting a final scheme for confirmation the Commission...

          3. 4. (1) Before submitting a scheme for confirmation the Commission shall...

          4. 5. After considering any representations duly made and the report of...

          5. 6. (1) The Commission shall, at the same time as they...

          6. 7. Except with the consent of all persons interested, no modification...

       3. Coming into operation and validity of schemes.

          1. 8. (1) A final scheme shall come into operation when confirmed...

       4. Variation of schemes.

          1. 9. (1) Where it appears to the Commission that it is...

   13. THIRTEENTH SCHEDULE

       Enactments Repealed.