HC Deb 25 October 1967 vol 751 cc1716-8
22. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to introduce legislation giving further protection and security of tenure to tenant farmers.

Mr. Buchan

My right hon. Friend is giving urgent consideration to the representations which have been made to him on this matter and he will make a statement when his consideration is completed.

Mr. Hamilton

Is my hon. Friend aware that there will be a limited amount of satisfaction at that reply? Does he not recognise that a good deal of hardship is being caused to tenant farmers by the callous treatment of them by the previous Tory Administration in their Agriculture Act? Will my hon. Friend prevent the eviction of these tenant farmers, about whom hon. Members opposite seem to be so very interested in other matters?

Mr. Buchan

I am well aware of the situation described by my hon. Friend. I do not think that it would be very useful for me to comment further on it beyond what I have said.

Mr. Russell Johnston

Is the Under-Secretary aware that if the suggested legislation is not included in the Queen's Speech, a lot of people will regard it as greatly to the shame of the Government?

Mr. Buchan

I do not see why the hon. Member should say at this stage that it would be shameful to the Government when the event in question occurred due to the activity of the party opposite. I am quite sure that people will make their own deductions.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Is the Minister aware that several hundred farmers recently attended an auction sale of a farm in Lanarkshire and that a 314-acre farm was auctioned for £24,000? It was also stated that the owner of the land still had 56,000 acres to sell. If my hon. Friend wants further particulars, I can give him the extract from the newspaper headed Tenant buys a farm from Sir Alec.

Mr. Stodart

Is the Under-Secretary aware that it is rubbish to talk of the 1958 Act as a callous one when it did no more than relax a situation which imposed an excessive rigidity on the whole agricultural system?

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Hector Hughes, Question 23.

Mr. Maclennan

On a point of order. In view of the importance of this matter to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and the awareness of the hardship which is being caused by this Tory legislation, I shall seek—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Member must give notice in the conventional way.