HC Deb 07 May 1980 vol 984 cc263-4
6. Mr. Maclennan

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek to increase the powers of the Highlands and Islands Development Board over the use of land.

Mr. Younger

No, Sir. The HIDB has similar powers to those of other public agencies and local authorities and I am not persuaded that there is need to extend them.

Mr. Maclennan

Does that mean that the Secretary of State rejects the legal advice given to the Scottish Office, which was accepted by his predecessor and referred to in paragraph 9 of the Highlands and Islands Development Board's case for increasing its powers under the 1965 legislation? Does the Secretary of State agree that it would be wholly unreasonable to ask the HIDB to put to use the powers that it has only to demonstrate their complexity? Does the Secretary of State accept or reject that legal advice or has he received fresh legal advice?

Mr. Younger

No, Sir. The legal advice is there and I have no reason to quarrel with it. The hon. Gentleman asks whether I wish to give new powers to the HIDB. I was making it clear that, if existing powers have not been used, I see no reason to give further powers to the board.

Mr. Donald Stewart

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his statement that he is satisfied with the situation is almost incredible? Does he realise that the latest action of the feudal reactionaries who own the land in the Highlands is to charge exorbitant prices for leases on schools whose 100-year leases are running out? Is it not time that the question of land in the Highlands and Islands was tackled?

Mr. Younger

The Highlands and Islands Development Board has wide powers. If the board has not so far used those powers it would be strange if Parliament were asked to give it yet more powers without due cause shown.

Mr. John MacKay

In the hope that my right hon. Friend might get through to the Opposition at his third attempt, will he restate that he, and the HIDB, have powers to deal with those matters contained in the board's report? The board has never attempted to use those powers and until it does attempt to use them it should not seek additional powers.

Mr. Younger

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend and I am grateful to him for trying to get something into the minds of Opposition Members. I do not claim that I could do that in three shots. I would have to try for much longer than that.

Mr. Maclennan

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the wholly unsatisfactory nature of the Secretary of State's reply, I give notice that I shall seek leave to raise the issue on the Adjournment.