HC Deb 21 July 1978 vol 954 cc449-50W
Mr. MacCormick

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list, from the international sources available to him, those countries, States and provinces in Europe and North America which impose restrictions on the sale of land to companies and financial institutions;

Erskine Bridge Forth Bridge Tay Bridge
Revenue Costs of collection Revenue Revenue
£ £ £ £
1972–73 312,273 163,285 1,360,819 594,672
1973–74 359,570 180,332 1,474,520 643,689
1974–75 380,557 234,310 1,413,560 656,637
1975–76 417,495 299,856 1,356,874* 600,484*
1976–77 471,743 300,078 1,587,248 695,513
* 45 week period 16th May 1975 to 31st March 1976.

(2) if he will list, from the international sources available to him, those countries, States and provinces in Europe and North America which require purchasers of land to be involved in some aspect of land use as their main occupation;

(3) if he will list, from the international sources available to him, those countries, States and provinces in Europe and North America which impose residence qualifications on purchasers of land.

Mr. Harry Ewing

Comprehensive information cannot readily be reduced to tabular form. Much revelant information is however available in the report commissioned by the Highlands and Islands Development Board, reproduced as an appendix to its recently published consultative document on proposals for changes in the Highland and Islands Development (Scotland) Act 1965 to allow more effective powers over rural land use.