§ Mr. George Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to use the National Land Fund to assist the National Trust for Scotland to buy the Isle of Iona.
§ Mr. RifkindIn conjunction with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend is considering the possibility of using the fund in the case of Iona. It may however, only be used for the acquisition of land where offered in lieu of estate duty or capital transfer tax, or to reimburse expenditure by the Secretary of State on acquisition under section 5 of the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953.
§ Mr. George Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received a report from the district valuer regarding his valuation of the nonreligious parts of the Island of Iona.
§ Mr. RifkindMy right hon. Friend has received a report from the district valuer on the commercial value of the property being offered by the Argyll Estates trustees but the historic and sentimental aspects are not quantifiable.
§ Mr. George Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in the event of the Island of Iona being put on the open land market, he will consider the compulsory purchase of the isle.
§ Mr. RifkindMy right hon. Friend has no power to do so.
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§ Mr. George Robertsonasked the secretary of state for Scotland if he will ditect the Highlands and Islands Development Board to acquire the Island of Iona.
§ Mr. RifkindNo. The Highlands and Islands Development Board is primarily a development agency, and it would not be consistent with its functions to acquire Iona, where is is desirable to restrict development which might affect the unique character of the island.