§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what estimate he has made of the financial resources and compensation required to abolish feudal superiors' rights; [23537]
(2) pursuant to his oral statement on 12 January 1998, Official Report, column 22, what is his estimate of the financial resources required to abolish the feudal system; and what are the public expenditure consequences. [23312]
§ Mr. McLeish[holding answer 16 January 1998]: Until the Scottish Law Commission formulates its final recommendations, it is not possible to estimate what, if any, financial resources will be required to abolish the feudal system or what will be the public expenditure consequences. Similarly, it is not possible to estimate what, if any, financial resources and compensation will be required to abolish feudal superiors' rights until the Commission has come to a view on this matter and until Ministers have had an opportunity to consider the Commission's recommendations.