Acquisition of Land (Assessment of Compensation) Act 1919

1 Tribunal for assessing compensation in respect of land compulsorily acquired for public purposes

(1) Where by or under any statute (whether passed before or after the passing of this Act) land is authorised to he acquired compulsorily by any Government Department or any local or public authority, any question of disputed compensation, and, where any part of the land to be acquired is subject to a lease which comprises land not required, any question as to the apportionment of the rent payable under the lease, shall be referred to and determined by the arbitration of such one of a panel of official arbitrators to be appointed under this section as may he selected in accordance with the rules made by the Reference Committee under this section.

(2) Such number of persons, being persons with special knowledge in the valuation of land, as may be appointed for England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland by the Reference Committee, shall form a panel of persons to act as official arbitrators for the purpose of this Act in England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland respectively: Provided that of the members of the said panel for England and Wales one at least shall be a person having special knowledge of the valuation of land in Wales and acquainted with the Welsh language.

(3) A person appointed to be a member of the panel, of official arbitrators shall hold office for such term certain as may be determined by the Treasury before his appointment, and whilst holding office shall not himself engage, or be a partner of any other person who engages, in private practice or business.

(4) There shall be paid out of moneys provided by Parliament to official arbitrators such salaries or remuneration as the Treasury may determine.

(5) The Reference Committee—

(a) for England and Wales, shall consist of the Lord Chief Justice of England, the Master of the Rolls and the President of the Surveyors Institution.

(b) for Scotland, shall consist of the Lord President of the Court of Session, the Lord Justice Clerk and the Chairman of the Scottish Committee of the Surveyors' Institution.

(c) for Ireland, shall consist of the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, the Master of the Rolls in Ireland and the President of the Surveyors' Institution, or (if the President of the Surveyors' Institution thinks fit) a person being a member of the council of that institution and having special knowledge of valuation of land in Ireland appointed by him to act in his place.