asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can state why, in the case of a landholder to whom a loan has been granted under Section 7 (7) of the Act of 1911 by the Board of Agriculture and who quits his holding, the unpaid portion of the loan is no longer continued to the incoming landholder as was formerly the practice?

In view of the principles laid down in the Culreoch case in 1926, the Board of Agriculture were advised that the previous practice of continuing loans to holders entering into vacated holdings is out-with the powers conferred by Section 7 (7) of the Act of 1911. Applications for such loans cannot, therefore, be entertained.

Is it intended to alter the rule so as to go back to the previous practice? Does the right hon. Gentleman not see that this may be a great hardship to the incoming tenant, and that it was never intended that the Board should get back this loan at very short notice, but that the loan should be spread over a 15-year period?

Any alteration of the rule would certainly require legislation.