HC Deb 11 December 1974 vol 883 cc504-5
16. Mr. Grimond

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to introduce a Crofters Bill.

Mr. Hugh D. Brown

As he recently indicated in replies to the hon. Members for Ross and Cromarty (Mr. Gray) and Argyll (Mr. MacCormick)—[Vol. 881, c. 139 and 418]—my right hon. Friend intends to introduce a Crofting Reform Bill as soon as parliamentary time can be made available.

Mr. Grimond

In the meantime, is the hon. Gentleman confident that crofters are getting their fair share of the increased value of land in the Highlands and Islands consequent upon oil development?

Mr. Brown

It is true that crofters whose land is acquired for development in advance of a Bill being enacted will have no statutory right to a share in the development value of their land and will be compensated on the basis of their agricultural loss, unless the landlord follows my practice with my own crofting tenants and shares the development value in keeping with the spirit of the proposed legislation.