§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his assessment of the working of the procedure for acquisition of farm tenancies by sons or near relatives of tenant farmers in Scotland, and of its effects on agricultural investment and on the availability of farms to rent.
§ Mr. William RossI am not aware of any difficulties in relation to the procedure introduced in the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968. I understand that very few cases have come before the Scottish Land Court. There is no evidence that the succession provisions have materially affected investment decisions, which are influenced by many different factors. The limited information available shows that the number of farms for re-letting has not decreased in recent years and in this respect any effect of the change in the law on succession appears therefore to be minimal.