HC Deb 15 May 1953 vol 515 cc96-8W
Mr. Patrick Maitland

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the procedure followed by the Department of Agriculture in selecting tenants for smallholdings let by the Department; and how far preference is given to ex-Service men.

Mr. J. Stuart

Tenants for smallholdings are selected from applicants who, following interview by technical officers of the Department of Agriculture, have been classified in accordance with their suitability. Character, general ability, experience and possession of capital for the type of holding desired are taken into account. When a holding is available for letting, a leet is prepared from a list of suitable applicants for the particular type of holding who have expressed a preference for settlement in the county in which the holding is situated. A short leet is then drawn up and the applicants thereon are specially interviewed by a senior technical officer of the Department. In making the final choice the Department take into account age, date of application, and any special circumstances. No general preference is given to ex-Service men, but service in the Forces is taken into account where two applicants are equally qualified in other respects.

Mr. Patrick Maitland

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of persons in Scotland and in Lanarkshire, respectively, whose names are on the registers of the Department of Agriculture as applicants for tenancies of smallholdings but whose applications have not yet been granted.

Mr. J. Stuart

The number of applications for holdings in Scotland outstanding at 30th April, 1953, was 14,442, but a large proportion of these are likely to be ineffective for various reasons such as age, lack of suitable qualifications and lack of capital. For Lanarkshire the number outstanding is 1,434.

Mr. Patrick Maitland

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of smallholdings in Scotland and Lanarkshire, respectively, let by the Department of Agriculture and the total acreages in each case.

Mr. J. Stuart

The figures for Scotland and Lanarkshire of smallholdings let by the Department of Agriculture, with total acreages, are as follows:

Number of smallholdings Total acreage
Scotland 3,874 343,939
Lanarkshire 152 1,736