(1)An assessment committee, where they have assessed the value of any animals, shall investigate, either in Northern Ireland or elsewhere, as may be most convenient, all claims for compensation under this Act in respect of such animals, and shall in respect of every such claim determine whether the claimant is or is not entitled to such compensation; and where such committee determine that any such claimant is entitled to such compensation, they shall fix the amount of such compensation having regard to the value as assessed by them of the animals to which the claim relates and such other relevant matters as may be brought before them by the claimant.
(2)Every assessment committee shall forthwith report to the Trustees their decision on every claim investigated by them, and the amount (if any) of the compensation fixed by them as payable out of the Fund in respect of such claim.
(3)An assessment committee may, with the consent of the owner of any animal the value of which has been assessed by them under this section, and subject to any directions which may be given by the British authorities, sell the carcase of such animal, and shall pay the proceeds of such sale into the Fund.
(4)If the owner of any such animal as aforesaid refuses his consent to the sale by an assessment committee of the carcase of such animal under this section, such owner shall not be entitled to compensation out of the Fund in respect of the slaughter of that animal.
(5)Where an assessment committee report under this section to the Trustees that any claimant for compensation under section eight of this Act is entitled thereto, the Trustees shall pay out of the Fund to that claimant the amount of such compensation as fixed by that committee.
F1Ext., 1972 NI 7