§ Mr. W. YOUNGasked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that two desirable farms on the Airleywight estate, Bank-foot, Perth, the Mains of Airleywight and Backmill, 393 acres and 279 acres, respectively, are advertised to let; whether the advertisement announces that the proprietor is prepared to let them as one holding; whether there are any powers to prevent the merging of two farms which under separate tenancy will provide a good living for two tenant farmers into one holding; and, if not, whether he will bring forward an Amendment to the Agricultural Bill now before 2394W the House to prevent amalgamations of holdings which result in reducing the number of tenant farmers?
§ Mr. MUNROThe farms in question have been let as one holding for many years. They are now advertised to let either as one holding or separately. Under the circumstances, the question of merging or of reducing the number of tenant farmers hardly seems to arise. I understand negotiations are in progress under which additional land may be secured for two local applicants on the property. I am not prepared to adopt the suggestion contained in the last part of the question.