§ Mr. Dewarasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases have been heard by the Lands Tribunal for Scotland in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. RifkindInformation about the business of the Lands Tribunal for Scotland in 1976, 1977 and 1978 is contained in Table 16 of the Civil Judicial Statistics Scotland, Cmnd. 7365, November 1978, and Cmnd. 7762, January 1980.
§ Mr. Dewarasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the grades of staff employed full-time by the Lands Tribunal for Scotland, together with their qualifications and the number in each grade.
§ Mr. RifkindThere are five full-time staff employed in the Lands Tribunal for Scotland in the following grades :
1 Higher Executive Officer (Clerk to the Tribunal)
1 Executive Officer
1 Clerical Officer
1 Specialist Typist
1 Messenger
The two senior staff are seconded from the Department of the Registers of Scotland and have experience in compiling and searching the register of sasines.
§ Mr. Dewarasked the Secretary of State for Scotland in how many cases heard by the Lands Tribunal for Scotland in each of the last three years the person raising the action was legally aided ; and if he will estimate the average costs received by a party making an application to the Lands Tribunal.
§ Mr. RifkindNo applications for legal aid were made in the last three years in connection with cases heard by the Lands Tribunal.
§ Mr. Dewarasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for the provision of legal aid for applications to the Lands Tribunal for Scotland, in terms of the Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Bill.
348W
§ Mr. RifkindLegal aid is already available, subject to the general conditions of financial eligibility, in proceeding before the Lands Tribunal for Scotland.
§ Mr. Dewarasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of running the Lands Tribunal for Scotland in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. RifkindThe following is the information readily available in relation to completed financial years :
1977–78 £51,284 1978–79 £49,076* 1979–80 £59,580* * Excludes in part in 1978–79 and wholly in 1979–80 the salary of the President who has been remunerated from the Consolidated Fund since entering joint appointment in October 1978 as Chairman of the Scottish Land Court.
§ Mr. Dewarasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what increase in staff establishment and running costs in connection with the Lands Tribunal for Scotland he expects as a result of the operation of the Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Bill.
§ Mr. RifkindI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Hamilton (Mr. Robertson) on 21 January 1980.—[Vol. 977, c.78.]