§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will instruct the Department of Agriculture to examine and report on all land in Scotland offered for sale, in view of the potential value of much of this land for hydro-electric development and the desirability of keeping it out of the hands of speculators?
1040W
Mr. JohnstonThe Department of Agriculture are not in a position to know of all impending private sales of land. But as I indicated on 24th November in reply to the hon. Member for the Western Isles (Mr. Malcolm MacMillan) the Government intend to introduce legislation to give effect to the principle that the compensation payable in public acquisition or control of land shall not exceed sums based on the standard of values at 31st March, 1939. Sales of land at the present time cannot therefore afford any financial advantage to land speculators who might be purchasing now with a view to later re-sale to a public body.