§ 20. Mr. James Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set up a committee to examine the operation of the collection of feu duties in Scotland.
§ Mr. WillisMy right hon. Friend is aware that the feudal system of land tenure has features that are open to criticism in modern conditions and he has the question of review under consideration.
§ Mr. HamiltonI thank my hon. Friend for that information, but is he aware that one of my constituents who is living in one of 16 flats which have been built in one feu was asked to collect all the feu duties of the remainder of the tenants or pay all the feu himself—and was told that if he refused he would be evicted from the house? Bearing this in mind, is my hon. Friend now prepared to give the matter further consideration?
§ Mr. WillisI am aware of the case to which my hon. Friend refers and, as I have said, my right hon. Friend is considering this together with the other aspects of the problem.
§ Mr. McInnesWill my hon. Friend consider the introduction of legislation to abolish the feudal system?
§ Mr. WillisAs I said in my original Answer, we are at present considering the whole question with the object of seeing what steps should be taken to bring it into line with modern conditions.