HC Deb 25 April 1950 vol 474 c755
13. Mr. McKie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now grant leases to the tenants of the farms owned by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland at Dunragit, Wigtownshire.

Mr. McNeil

I regret that I cannot grant new leases to these tenants without prejudicing the carrying out of land settlement operations as opportunity offers. The lands were, of course, acquired for the specific purpose of land settlement.

Mr. McKie

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the answer he has given will cause great dissatisfaction to those who are concerned, because they might have expected the same kind of security of tenure under a Socialist Government as that Socialist Government has imposed upon the tenants of private land?

Mr. McNeil

I do not think that meets the point. This land was acquired for certain specific purposes, the primary one being land settlement.