§ 6. Sir MURDOCH McKENZIE WOODasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Berwickshire smallholding which he proposes to relet on a lease under the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Acts is at present under landholders' tenure with rent revised by the land court; and, if so, whether the consent of the land court has been obtained to let the holding outside the Landholders' Acts?
§ Mr. SKELTONThe holding referred to by the hon. Member is not and cannot be let under landholder's tenure. The second part of the question therefore does not arise.
§ Sir M. WOODWhy cannot it be let under a landholder's tenure?
§ Mr. SKELTONBecause the land on which the holding is placed is leased by the Department from the owner under the Land Settlement (Scotland) Act, and in these circumstances a landholder's tenure is not the appropriate one.
§ 10. Sir M. WOODasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of smallholdings on private property in Scotland which were vacated during the past year, and the number of such holdings relet under the Small Landowners' Acts; and in how many instances it was necessary for the Department of Agriculture to appeal to the land court to compel the 1556 owners to continue the subjects on landholders' tenure?
§ Mr. SKELTONDuring the year 1932, 133 cases of renunciation of landholders' holdings on private property were reported to the Department. Of these, 119 have either already been re-let on land holders' tenure, or assurances have been given that they will be so let. In three cases the holdings were retained in the owner's occupation, while in the remaining 11 cases the Department are still in correspondence with the proprietors. With regard to the second part of the question, I would point out that the land court have no jurisdiction to compel re-letting on landholder's tenure.
§ Sir M. WOODIs it not the case that the Government have to consent before the holdings can be relet outside that tenure?
§ Mr. SKELTONIf my hon. and gallant Friend will read my answer, he will see that none of the 133 cases referred to has been relet outside that tenure.