§ MR. R. L. HARMSWORTH (Caithnessshire)To ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that in a recent application under the Allotments Act for land (extending to thirty acres, and valued at £15 11s. per annum), at Achscrabster, in the county of Caithness, the legal and other expenses connected with the valuation of this small piece of land were as follows: Arbiter's fee and expenses, £17 1s. 5d.; fee and expenses to the clerk to the Reference, £47 2s. 6d.; cost of the solicitors for the proprietor, £25 15s. 1d.; compensation to the tenants (£15 6s. 5d.), and their expenses (£4 2s. 5d.) together £19 8s. 10d.; cost of the solicitors representing the parish council, £3 5s. 8d.; outlays incurred by the county clerk, £21 12s. 1d.; making a total of £134 8s. 7d.; and whether the Government will introduce legislation to amend the Allotments Act so as to make the incurring of such expenses impossible in the future.
(Answered by Mr. Sinclair.) The expenses connected with the Achscrabster I allotments are correctly reported by the hon. Member. The rent, however, is£18 9s. 6d. per annum, not £15 11s. Undoubtedly the total amount of the expenses is out of all proportion to the magnitude of this transaction, and a simpler and cheaper procedure is necessary to any large extension of the allotments system. Until Parliament has had an opportunity of considering the Bill amending the Crofters Act, which is now under preparation, I am unable to give any pledge as to legislation.