§ 7. Lord SCONEasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that many of the houses on the Department of Agriculture for Scotland's smallholdings at Longforgan, Perthshire, are in a state of dilapidation; and if he will make an inquiry into the position?
§ Sir G. COLLINSThe smallholdings referred to are occupied under land-holders tenure, and the obligation of maintenance is on the holders concerned. Recent reports to the Department of Agriculture by inspecting officers do not indicate that the houses are in a state of dilapidation.
§ Lord SCONEWill my right hon. Friend consider the advisability of making further investigation, in which 892 case he will find that many of the houses will collapse long before they become the property of the present occupiers?
§ Sir G. COLLINSOfficers of the Department will visit the scheme about Whitsuntide, and I will ask them to observe these houses with care.