HC Deb 17 August 1916 vol 85 cc2093-4W
Mr. L. HARMSWORTH

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he will state the amount of arrears in the county of Caithness dealt with by the Land Court since the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act, 1911, came into operation and the amount cancelled?

Mr. TENNANT

From the commencement of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act on 1st April, 1912, to 31st December, 1915, the Land Court dealt with a total sum of £1,678, 9s. 1d. of arrears in the county of Caithness. Of this sum the Court cancelled £1,017 15s. 1d., and ordered the balance of £660 14s. to be paid.

Mr. HARMSWORTH

asked what age in the opinion of the Land Court fulfils the obligation of Section 21 of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act, 1911, as to right of assignment of a holding?

Mr. TENNANT

In the event of a landholder being unable to work his holding through illness, old age, or infirmity, he may apply to the Land Court for leave to assign his holding to a member of his family, being his wife or any person who failing nearer heirs would succeed him in case of intestacy. The Land Court, after inquiry, consider all the circumstances of the case and deal with the application on its merits, but have not fixed any definite limit of age.

Mr. HARMSWORTH

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he will state how many first fair rents have been fixed by the Land Court for holdings in the county of Caithness since the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act, 1911 came into operation; the area in arable, in outrun, in individual occupation, in township pasture, if any, and in general common pasture of such holdings; and the amounts of the old rents and of the new fair rents of such holdings?

Mr. TENNANT

The Land Court have fixed first fair rents for 363 holdings in the county of Caithness from the commencement of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act on 1st April, 1912, to 31st December, 1915. The area of these holdings extended to 5,305 acres 1 rood 12 poles arable, and 4,630 acres 2 roods 8 poles outrun in individual occupation, with shares or interests in township common pastures extending to 12,681 acres, and in general common pastures extending to 29,994 acres. The old rents of these 363 holdings amounted to £3,508 10s. 2d. The fair rents were fixed by the Court at £2,551 12s. 8d.

Mr. HARMSWORTH

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he will state the number of revaluations on the expiry of the septennial period the Land Court have made in Caithness since the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act, 1911, came into operation, and the amounts of the old and of the new rents?

Mr. TENNANT

The Land Court have made revaluations of 278 holdings in the county of Caithness between 1st April, 1912, and 31st December, 1915. The old rents of these 278 holdings amounted to £2,859 5s. 1d., and the fair rents fixed by the Court to £1,570 2s. 2d.

Mr. HARMSWORTH

asked how many applications from Caithness for the fixing of a first equitable rent have been dealt with by the Land Court since the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act, 1911, came into operation, and the amounts of the old rents and of the first equitable rents?

Mr. TENNANT

The Land Court have fixed first equitable rents for 146 holdings in the county of Caithness between 1st April, 1912, and 31st December, 1915. The old rents of these amounted to £2,270 11s. 6d., and the first equitable rents to £1,757 2s.