§ 42. Mr. Maxtonasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the purchase of the Richmond and Gordon estates in Scotland by the Crown Lands Commissioners has been completed; what is the total 1687 acreage involved; the price paid; and whether he can state the uses to which the land is to be put?
§ Mr. RamsbothamThe transactions for the purchase of about 90,000 acres of land from the Duke of Richmond and Gordon have not yet been completed, and my right hon. Friend is afraid, therefore, that he is unable to state the price. As was explained on 25th November, in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Dudley (Mr. Joel), under the Crown Lands Acts all sums received for or in respect of sales or exchanges of any part of the possessions of the Crown are required normally to be invested in land, the agricultural properties acquired under this provision generally continue to be used for the same purposes as in the past.
§ Mr. MaxtonCan the Minister say why, out of so many estates in Britain this is the one to be acquired by the Crown Lands Commissioners? Why have they chosen this particular estate?
§ Mr. RamsbothamI presume because the land was for sale and was suitable.
§ Mr. Garro JonesIs it not the general plan of the Government to withhold from the prospective vendor the name of the prospective purchaser, and why were the proprietors of this estate informed that the Crown Lands Commissioners were in the market for it?
§ Mr. RamsbothamI do not think I can add anything more to what I have said, because the transaction is not yet completed.
§ Mr. Garro JonesMy question has reference to the initiation of the transaction. Why were the vendors allowed to know that the Government were in the market?
§ Mr. RamsbothamPerhaps the hon. Member will put that question down.