§ Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland why a minimum lease of 10 years is required before he will consider an application under the Farm Improvement Scheme from a tenant farmer.
§ Mr. RossA minimum lease of ten years is not required before considering262W an application from a tenant farmer if all the land concerned is in single ownership. Where this is not so, and the benefits depend on two or more pieces of land in different ownerships, a minimum lease of ten years is required because otherwise there is no assurance that all the land will remain part of the relevant unit throughout the minimum useful life of the improvement.