HC Deb 21 April 1931 vol 251 cc793-5
37. Mr. SCOTT

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the benefit conferred upon smallholders and applicants for smallholdings in Scotland by the issue in 1912 and 1915 by the Board of Agriculture of several leaflets giving information as to the opportunities, rights, and procedure under the Smallholdings Acts; and whether he will now arrange to have these leaflets revised to date and re-issued widely in Scotland?

Mr. WESTWOOD

I think the hon. Member will agree that it would not be convenient to take any action in this matter while the Amending Bill dealing with landholders' tenure is still under consideration by the Legislature. I am prepared to look into the matter when the appropriate time arrives.

38. Mr. SCOTT

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the holdings constituted by the Department of Agriculture at Wester Hailes, or any of them, have been let at competitive rents; whether the rights of the holders are regulated by the Agricultural Holdings Act or the Smallholdings Acts; under what precise statutory enactment the Department have established the holdings; and what funds they have used in doing so?

Mr. WESTWOOD

None of the holdings constituted at Wester Hailes has been let at a competitive rent. The rights of the tenants are regulated by the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act, 1923. The holdings were established under the powers conferred on the Department by Part I of the Land Settlement (Scotland) Act, 1919; and the cost of the scheme has been met from the Agriculture (Scotland) Fund.

Mr. SCOTT

Will the hon. Gentleman state how it is that these tenants are under the Agricultural Holdings Act, which applies to large farmers, while the Government are using the Smallholdings Acts to establish them?

Mr. WESTWOOD

The reason why the tenure is regulated by the Agricultural Holdings Act is that Section 26 (4) of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act of 1911 provides that a person shall not be admissible to registration as a new holder under the Act in respect of any land within the boundaries of a burgh.

Mr. SCOTT

Will the hon. Gentleman say whether these holders can have access to the Scottish Land Court or whether they are entirely in the hands of the Department of Agriculture?

Mr. WESTWOOD

I would respectfully suggest that that question might be put on the Paper.