§ Mr. Sloanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the tenant of Bankend Farm, Cumnock, Ayrshire, has received notice to quit from the proprietors, Mountjoy, Limited; and, in view of the fact that the tenant is an excellent farmer and that the farm is to be let to tenants who have already three farms and are less efficient farmers than the present tenant; whether he intends taking any action to prevent the change taking place to the detriment of food production?
Mr. ChapmanThe answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. My right hon. Friend in view of the hon. Member's representations sent a senior officer of the Department of Agriculture to make inquiries, but there is nothing in his report which would warrant any intervention under the law. My right hon. Friend has only powers of intervention under the Defence Regulations if it can be shown that a change in tenancy will be detrimental to food production. This was not borne out by the report he received.