HC Deb 13 February 1980 vol 978 cc697-8W
Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the acreage of land in Scotland and the percentage of the total amount in each case of the following (a) all owner-occupiers, (b) owner-occupied farms, (c) the Church of Scotland, (d) central Government nationalised industries and local authorities and (e) the Ministry of Defence.

Mr. Rifkind

On the basis of the Agricultural Census in June 1979, owner-occupied farms represented approximately 41 per cent. of the total area of Scotland. The basic information from which the other area percentages could be derived is not held in the Scottish Office or in the Registers of Sasines, and its collection would entail disproportionate effort and cost which could not be justified.