Sir L. HARMSWORTHasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that the Court of Session has decided that the expression, "predecessors of the same family," occurring in the Small Landholders Act. 1911, does not include son-in-law of previous tenant; and whether, in view of the hardship that this decision is causing, he will introduce legislation to remedy the Act in this respect?
§ Mr. MUNROThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. An opportunity will arise for considering this matter in connection with pending legislative proposals.
Sir L. HARMSWORTHasked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention 2744W has been drawn to breaches of the Small Landholders Act, 1911, Section 17, whereby landlords are required to intimate to the Board of Agriculture the termination of possession of a holding by a landlord; and what steps he proposes to take to compel compliance of the Act in such cases?
§ Mr. MUNROA few cases have come under the notice of the Board where landlords have failed to give intimation as required by the Section that a holding has ceased, or is about to cease, to be held by a landholder. On learning of the vacancy, the Board have made inquiry and instructed the landlord to comply with the terms of the Act by reletting the holding on landholders' tenure, unless there were good reasons for a contrary course. If the hon. Baronet will supply particulars of any case he has in mind, I will have inquiry made.