§ 80. Mr. SPENCEasked the Secretary for Scotland the number of small holdings taken over at East Fortune, East Lothian; and whether there is more land available for the said purpose?
Mr. ADAMSONThe land in question has not yet been formally acquired by the Board of Agriculture, but negotiations are far advanced, and the Board are managing the property in anticipation of completion of the purchase. The scheme embraces all the lands attached to the aerodrome at East Fortune which have not already been sold, and extend to 609 acres, on which it is hoped to settle 20 holders.
§ 81. Mr. SPENCEasked the Secretary for Scotland if he will amend the instruction given to the Board of Agriculture in 1921 to make it permissible for heads of families with small capital and whose sons, ex-service men, are resident with them to acquire a small holding?
Mr. ADAMSONThe instruction in question has been interpreted so that if an ex-service man who applied for a holding before 1st March, 1921, is willing to withdraw his application from the Board's lists in favour of his father, the Board are prepared to consider the settlement of the latter.
§ 82. Mr. CLIMIEasked the Secretary for Scotland if he is aware that the smallholders at Collennan, Troon, Ayrshire, have made application to the Land Court to have their holdings valued, and that some of the smallholders have been in occupation for three years and do not yet know the rent they have to pay for their holdings; that a representative of the Board of Agriculture made a promise that the Court would visit Collennan in August last, and that the Court was in Ayr on 23rd February, 1924, but has not yet visited Collennan; and will he now take steps to get the Court to visit Collennan without delay?
Mr. ADAMSONI understand that the lodgment with the Land Court of the application for valuation of holdings at Collennan, Troon, Ayrshire, has been delayed pending the completion of building and other works on certain of the holdings. From date of entry the smallholders have been charged rents fixed by the Board of Agriculture, and it has been made clear to the holders that, as the valuations of the Land Court will be effective as from dates to be fixed by the Court, the holders will not be prejudiced by any delay in completing the Court proceedings. The Board are unaware of any promise made by one of their representatives to the effect that the Court would visit Collennan in August last. The Board anticipate that the application will be lodged with the Court within a fortnight, and it is hoped that the Court's hearing and inspection will take place shortly thereafter.
§ 84. Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked the Secretary for Scotland the number of applications made to the Land Courts 1181 by small landholders in Scotland for revaluation of their buildings and revision of their rents, and the total reductions made by the Courts up to the present date?
Mr. ADAMSONI am informed that in connection with 19 schemes of land settlement the Board of Agriculture, with the concurrence of 285 holders concerned, have requested the Land Court to value the buildings and (in the case of the Board's estates) to fix fair rents. The Court have issued awards in respect of 14 schemes, with the following effect: The annual liabilities for buildings have been reduced from £4,493 to £2,844; and fair rents from £5,669 to £5,067.