HC Deb 27 July 1966 vol 732 cc1703-4
7. Sir F. Maclean

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland by what method he obtained the agreement of the 15 smallholders at Thirdpart, West Kilbride, to the 110 per cent. increase in their rents imposed by him last year.

Mr. Willis

Twelve of the smallholders agreed to the increases. The other three have exercised their right to seek arbitration by the Scottish Land Court.

Sir F. Maclean

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that his right hon. Friend assured me in May last year that 14 had agreed? How does the discrepancy arise?

Mr. Willis

When the discussions first took place between the lands officers and the tenants 14 of them agreed, but when the Department wrote to get written confirmation two of them had decided to go to the Land Court.

9. Mr. Alasdair Mackenzie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the demand for Department of Agriculture smallholdings in Ross and Cromarty, resulting in high rents being offered when a holding becomes vacant, thus putting them beyond the reach of the people for whom they were originally constituted, if he will refer the matter to the Scottish Land Court whenever there is a change of tenancy, so that a fair rent may be fixed.

Mr. Willis

No, Sir. Most Department holdings in Ross and Cromarty are crofts let at a fair rent settled by negotiation or fixed by the Land Court. About a dozen holdings under ordinary agricultural tenancy are let in accordance with the provisions of the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Acts. I do not accept that either category of holding is being put beyond the reach of those for whom they were intended.

Mr. Mackenzie

While thanking the hon. Gentleman for that Answer, may I ask him whether he would not agree that, since there is such a keen demand for holdings, it would be much fairer to fix a fair rent to begin with and then select candidates on their merits? The present system seems to be getting away from the original intention entirely and enables people who have no connection whatever with agriculture to come in and thus deprive people brought up on the land who have been saving for a long time to get a holding.

Mr. Willis

The principles of fair rents applies in the case of crofts. In the case of the very small number of ordinary agricultural holdings, the rent is fixed on the basis of a willing tenant and a willing landlord.