§ 19. Mr. Doigasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish annually a list of all owners of land, giving the area, date it was acquired, and the purchase price, and place this in the reference or public libraries of the regional councils in whose areas the land is situated.
§ Mr. MillanNo, Sir. The expense of doing this would not be justified. Since the information is already available in the Department of the Registers of Scotland.
§ Mr. DoigIs my hon. Friend aware that few people apply to see or read the registers in Scotland, whereas many people go to public and reference libraries, and the costs would be justified to make 1020 the facts known to the public? That would be better than wild speculation and rumours, particularly about local authority members.
§ Mr. MillanIt is unfortunate if there are rumours and speculation, but the information is publicly available, and to duplicate it, as my hon. Friend suggests, in public libraries all over Scotland would not be justified, in view of the expense involved.
§ Mr. MacArthurMay I ask whether, for the removal or confirmation of doubt, the hon. Gentleman will now publish in reference or public libraries in Dundee a list of all owners of local land, giving the area, the date it was acquired, the purchase price, the selling price and the profit?
§ Mr. MillanI do not think that I shall do that, but I shall consider the question if the hon. Gentleman will provide similar information for both Scotland and England in respect of hon. Gentlemen opposite, setting out their purchases and sales of land.