Transfer of Tribunal Functions (Lands Tribunal and Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2009

I intervene very briefly, as your Lordships will no doubt be glad to hear, and in doing so I declare a couple of interests. I think that people are aware of them, but I am currently chair of the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council, which has an oversight role in these matters. In view of some of the Minister’s references, I should say that I have served in that capacity as a member of the Tribunal Procedure Committee and have therefore played my own part, although someone else has done most of the work, in creating the new rules. Tempting though it would be, in the light of what has been said from the two Front Benches, to re-enter into the arguments about war pensions, I regard them as sensibly put to sleep and do not propose to awaken them. I simply express my general support for the proposals in the order, because of the support that I and the council that I chair have for the overall process of tribunal reform. I shall be interested to hear what the Minister has to say in response to the noble Lord, Lord Thomas of Gresford, but my view is that, in view of the nature of the work of the Lands Tribunal, as well as the reputation that it has established, the appropriate place for it is as part of the Upper Tribunal. If I may say so to my noble friend, it could well become appropriate to consider its title when other tribunals in the land and property area come into the tribunals service, if they do in due course. That is something else on which the Minister will no doubt want to comment in general. I simply express my strong support for the order.