Mr. DUNDAS WHITEasked the Secretary for Scotland how many small landholders are now in occupation of small holdings on the estate of Lindean, Selkirk; what has been the total expenditure by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland in relation to these small holdings, over and above the compensation of £8,588 4s. 3d. awarded to the proprietor and apart from the costs of arbitration and litigation; what is the aggregate annual rental payable by these small landholders, to whom is it paid, and what is the arrangement between the Board and the proprietor with regard to it; by how much the rental of the Lindean estate has been reduced owing to the establishment of these small holdings upon it, and what was the amount of compensation awarded in respect of that reduction of rental?
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Mr. McKINNON WOODEleven holders are now in occupation. The total expenditure to date by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland in relation to these small holdings—over and above the compensation of £8,588 4s. 3d. awarded to the proprietor and apart from the expense of arbitration and litigation, but including compensation of £990 awarded to the tenant—amounts to £5,829 11s. 4d., of which approximately £4,500 is recoverable either as loans for buildings and588W fences or as the value of unexhausted improvements. It should be noted that of the sum of £8,588 referred to, approximately £l,l81 is also recoverable for existing buildings resold to the new holders The aggregate annual rent is £343 1s., and it is payable directly to the proprietor by the tenants. The decrease in rent amounted to £152, but the arbiter held that this was more than compensated for by setting off against it the interest on the purchase price of the buildings and the saving on upkeep and assessments.