§ Mr. MaclennanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Lord Advocate has given approval to the Scottish Law Commission to give high priority in its fifth programme to the abolition of the feudal system; and if he will make a statement. [15495]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The Scottish Law Commission has been considering abolition of the feudal system as part of its fourth programme of law reform. I understand that my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate has, at my request, said to the Scottish Law Commission that this should be treated as a matter of priority in any fifth programme. Until such time as the Scottish Law Commission's fifth programme of law reform has been presented to Parliament, it would not be proper for me to make a statement on its contents.
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§ Mr. MaclennanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has received from the Scottish Law Commission as to the likely time for the receipt of its final recommendations on the abolition of the feudal system. [15496]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: I expect the Scottish Law Commission's fifth programme of law reform to be presented to Parliament in the near future. A timetable for the completion of the commission's report on the abolition of the feudal system will be part of the programme but, until such time as the programme has been presented to Parliament, it would not be proper for me to make a statement on its contents.