HC Deb 22 December 1919 vol 123 cc1096-7W
Major MURRAY

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, seeing that the acquisition by the Scottish Board of Agriculture of land at Gretna for small holdings has been delayed for many months, mainly because the Departments concerned have not agreed upon the price at which the land shall be transferred from one Department to the other, he will take steps to have the price fixed before the beginning of next Session?

Mr. MUNRO

The Board of Agriculture are in communication with the Treasury in the matter, and I hope it may be possible to reach an agreement before the beginning of next Session.

Major MURRAY

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the Scottish Board of Agriculture have now decided to acquire the farms of Hartwood and Thorniethwaite, near Lochmaben, seeing that the situation of these farms is most suitable for small holdings, and that an expert's report has been furnished to the Board, which states that three-fourths of the land is cultivable?

Mr. MUNRO

I am informed that a report of the nature indicated has been sent to the Board by the Dumfries-shire War Pensions Committee. The question of acquiring the property is at present under consideration. The matter is not free from difficulty, and the Board have not yet reached a decision.

Sir H. COWAN

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he can state the total amount by which rents have been reduced under the Small Holdings (Scotland) Act of 1911 since it came into operation, and what has been the total cost of the administration of the Act?

Mr. MUNRO

In reply to my hon. Friend, the total reduction of fair rents, revelations and equitable rents in cases disposed of by the Scottish Land Court from the 1st April, 1912, to the 31st December, 1918, is £11,231. The expenses of administration of the Land Court for the period from 1st April, 1912, to 31st March, 1919, were£46,688, exclusive of the salaries of the members of the Land Court, which are charged to the Consolidated Fund. In stating these figures, I should point out that the work of the Land Court includes a great variety of proceedings of which the fixing of rents is only one branch, and that it would be quite fallacious to draw any comparison between the two totals which I have quoted.