§ Mr. ADAMSONasked the Lord Advocate whether the Scottish Office has considered the desirability of buying out the landlords whose interests will be affected by the Rosyth naval base at the agricultural value of their land?
§ The LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. Ure)The answer is in the negative.
§ Mr. ADAMSONasked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that the borough of Dunfermline has applied for a Provisional Order extending the borough boundaries so as to include the Rosyth naval 1404 base, and that the Earl of Elgin has lodged an objection to the extension on the ground that it means extra taxation to him; and whether the Scottish Office has, either on its own account, or in conjunction with the Treasury, prepared any valuation of the land that would be included in the borough if the extension came into effect, showing what the land was worth before the naval base was started, and what it will be worth when it is completed?
§ Mr. UREI am aware that the burgh of Dunfermline has applied for a Provisional Order of the character referred to, and that Lord Elgin, as a party interested, has, following the ordinary procedure, lodged a petition stating the various grounds on which he objects to the proposed Order. The land in question is, of course, included in the county valuation roll, and it will in due course also be valued in accordance with the provision of Part I. of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910. The Scottish Office has no authority to prepare any other valuation.
§ Mr. WATTCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether this is the same landowner who prevented the initiation of a garden city in this locality?