HC Deb 19 April 1978 vol 948 cc439-41
14. Mr. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Government's intentions further to reform the law on land tenure.

Mr. Harry Ewing

It remains the Government's intention to make further progress with reform of the law on land tenure, but I cannot at present be specific about the timing of any legislation.

Mr. Henderson

Does the Under-Secretary accept that there is considerable concern that proper legislation has not come forward, not least in my constituency, where tenants at will had been hoping that they would be able to get a valid title? That would have enabled them to get mortgages for their houses, which they cannot obtain at present. Is it for technical reasons that this legislation is being held up, or is it for some other reason, which the hon. Gentleman can now explain to us?

Mr. Ewing

It is our hope to proceed to a system of registration of title to land. With regard to the aspect that the hon. Gentleman raises, that of tenants at will, we certainly hope to ensure that reform of this particular tenure is included in the general land tenure proposals. But I must be honest with the House and say that during this Session there has been pressure on parliamentary time, which I am sure the Scottish National Party has not been unappreciative of, and which we are working under at present.

Mr. Canavan

Will my hon. Friend take steps to deal with some of the abuses of land tenure, in view of recent reports that the Tory-controlled Grampian Regional Authority has been giving several acres of land rent-free over the past seven years to one of its rich farming friends, the hon. Member for Banff (Mr. Watt)?

Mr. Ewing

I had noticed that story in the Press. I am sure that my hon. Friend shares with me the wish that we should not be unkind to the hon. Gentleman. I have a feeling that the regional council has been looking for the hon. Gentleman since October 1974 to send him the account, and that it will find him much more easily after the next election.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

I welcome what the hon. Gentleman said about legislation on the registration of land. Will he acknowledge that in the long term this could lower the level of costs of transfer of houses and of house purchase, and therefore would be very much welcomed in encouraging home ownership in Scotland? Therefore, can he give us a more specific assurance about the introduction of this legislation?

Mr. Ewing

I could not be more specific than I have already been. This Parliament has about 18 months to run. All I can say is that if we find time between now and November 1979, the possibility is that we would introduce the legislation.