Former MP for Aberdeenshire East
I beg to move amendment No. 1, in page 17, line 43, leave out 'one twenty-fifth' and insert 'one-fiftieth3/10/2007'.
These are three associated amendments. I emphasise to the Lord Advocate, who is here to reply on behalf of the Government, that these three amendments are alternative to each other in terms of dealing with the question of compensation in obtaining title for tenants-at-will. They are alternatives and not cumulative provisions to be taken together.
That may well mean that the Lord Advocate will be reconsidering his response today, since he was not aware of the position until now. I first raised this matter when the Bill went to the Scottish Grand Committee on 15 March. It relates to tenants-at-will in the North-East of Scotland who are in a peculiar type of legal limbo. They are neither the feudal proprietors of the land nor tenants in...
I have no doubt that that would greatly accommodate the Lord Advocate.
Yes, this is his last appearance.
That is a useful observation, Mr. Deputy Speaker, to all of us. But the remarks that I am making are in no way related to a general election. They are related to the matter that is contained in these amendments. The issue at stake is the terms under which a tenant-at-will will be able to obtain full title to the property. The Government's proposals are contained in clause 20. I believe that...
I shall not conceal the fact that I am extremely disappointed by the Lord Advocate's reply. It seems that the Government are leaning over backwards to help the lairds and landlords in the North-East of Scotland as against tenants-at-will. I am extremely disappointed that they are doing this. I am afraid that the Lord Advocate did not deal with the 25 times annual rent point, in the sense...
Since none of the questions today has had anything to do with the forthcoming election, will the Prime Minister explain in his broadcast tonight that the reason why he did not press ahead with the vote on the Scotland Act order was his cowardice in calling the bluff—
