HC Deb 31 January 1968 vol 757 cc1332-3
15. Mr. James Davidson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to terminate the feudal system in Scotland.

Mr. Buchan

As my right hon. Friend announced in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Rutherglen (Mr. Gregor Mackenzie) on 26th July last, he is having an intensive examination made of the possibility of major reform of the Scottish system of land tenure. In recent months officials have been in consultation with a number of bodies with a view to developing proposals.—[Vol. 751, c. 146.]

Mr. Davidson

I am aware of what the Minister has just told the House. Is he aware that most of those concerned in Scotland—feu-ers, vassals and those who pay feu duties—would be quite satisfied if they were given the legal right to redeem their feu duties and if at the same time a legal right was given to planning authorities to over-rule those conditions contained in feu charters which affect planning?

Mr. Buchan

These are among the proposals which have been reaching us. They will be considered.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Does not my hon. Friend agree that there have been many intensive examinations of the feudal system in Scotland, including one very authoritative one by an ex-Secretary of State for Scotland, Tom Johnston, into the noble families? Does not my hon. Friend realise that local authorities which build houses and which then wish to lay sewage pipes along river beds are being bled white as a result of this system? What we want is not intensive examination but action.

Mr. Buchan

I will take that advice very much to heart. I assure my hon. Friend that noble families will be part of the matter under consideration at the end of this exercise.

16. Mr. James Davidson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy in regard to the payment of multures when the mill concerned no longer exists.

Mr. Buchan

These payments, whatever their origins, are now in effect land burdens and they will be considered as part of the examination of possible land tenure reform which my right hon. Friend announced on 26th July last in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Rutherglen (Mr. Gregor Mackenzie).—[Vol. 751, c. 146.]

Mr. Davidson

I am very glad to hear that this is also under consideration, but is the Under-Secretary aware that in practically every case that I have examined the mill concerned no longer exists and it is an utterly obsolete conception that a man should pay a mill duty for the right to have his corn ground in a mill which probably has not existed for 100 years?

Mr. Buchan

This is true. The multures still exist. Unfortunately, they have now established themselves as a recognised condition of the occupation of individual properties. I recognise their archaic nature. To some extent they were replaced by the Thirlage Act, 1799. They are still written into the system. They are one of the factors which we shall be reviewing.

Mr. Maclennan

Does my hon. Friend recognise that speedy legislation to sweep away the archaisms of practically 1,000 years would not be welcomed by every hon. Member on this side and that the burdens of landholding which have been referred to by the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, West (Mr. James Davidson) existed even at the time of the last Liberal Government?

Mr. Buchan

I am certainly aware that these burdens existed, both under the last Liberal Government and under other previous Governments. I think my hon. Friend was stressing that he would not want over-speedy action. I hope that a modicum of speed would not be unwelcome.