Mr. DUNDAS WHITEasked the Secretary for Scotland whether any of the Grants in relief of agricultural rates, under the Agricultural Rates, etc. (Scotland), Act, 1896, and the Local Taxation (Scotland) Act, 1898, is applied in relief of rates on agricultural land within Scottish burghs; and, if so, whether he can give any indication of the amount so applied?
§ Mr. MUNROThe Grants in question are not given in relief of any rates levied by town councils, but are given in relief of rates levied by county councils and parish councils on occupiers of agricultural land whether in county or burgh. The amount given in respect of rates within burghs cannot be separated from the totals, but in the case of county rates it may be assumed to be negligible. I may add that the figures for half a dozen large burghal parishes containing about one-third of the population of Scotland show that the whole amount received by them under the Act was only about £700 out of £180,000.