Oral Answers to Questions — Scotland – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 18 Mawrth 1964.
Mr Emrys Hughes
, South Ayrshire
12:00,
18 Mawrth 1964
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish his estimate of the sums paid by farmers in rent to their landlords.
Mr James Stodart
, Edinburgh West
It is estimated that in 1962–63 £4·5 million was paid in rent by farmers in Scotland to their landlords.
Mr Emrys Hughes
, South Ayrshire
Can the Minister give us some more recent statistics? Will he think of publishing in the OFFICIAL REPORT information about the income of landlords similar to that just issued about the incomes of farmers? Is he aware that many Scottish farmers allege that increases in rent are responsible for increases in milk prices, so that landlords are getting money out of the milk prices?
Mr James Stodart
, Edinburgh West
That goes a little beyond the Question. The hon. Member has spoken of the effect of rent on milk prices, but although rents have increased, they still form only a very small proportion of total farming costs, namely, only 5 per cent.
Mr James Prior
, Lowestoft
Would not my hon. Friend agree that for every farm which comes up for renting there are at least 100 applicants?
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
