§ 36. Wing-Commander Jamesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, having regard to the fact that such a record could be easily kept, he will instruct his Department to keep a record of all purchases of agricultural land in Scotland of over, say, 200 acres that are made not for occupation but for prompt resale; and whether he will thereafter publish periodical lists of the agents and principals concerned in such transactions?
Mr. JohnstonThe question of dealing with speculation in agricultural land is presently being considered by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and myself. But the remedy, I am afraid, is not that suggested in my hon. and gallant Friend's Question. I could only obtain particulars of purchases from the Register of Sasines, possibly at considerable periods after the transactions had been effected.
§ Wing Commander JamesWill my right hon. Friend look into the case, of which I gave him some particulars last week, of a speculator who recently received unfavourable attention from this House in connection with a munitions scandal, and who lately bought a large agricultural estate in the south of Scotland and resold it within a few days, and will he not see whether he can check this type of monstrous speculation?
Mr. JohnstonI would like to thank my hon. and gallant Friend for giving me particulars of that case. We have already caused urgent inquiries to be made into the facts.
§ Mr. Neil MacleanWill the right hon. Gentleman also make a record of all the land taken from the people by the enclosures?