asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he does not propose to have a Land Authority for Scotland similar to the Land Authority proposed for Wales under the Community Land Bill.

The White Paper on the community land scheme drew attention to the advantages of laying on local authorities the powers and duties to be provided for in the Bill. I do not consider that there are factors in Scotland which would outweigh these advantages.

The present arrangements, under which I ask local planning authorities to seek the advice of the local officers of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland at an early stage, and the close consultation between that Department and Scottish Development Department, will continue. A revised circular, to be issued shortly to the new planning authorities by Scottish Development Department, will stress the increasing importance of home food production and the consequent need to conserve our limited resources of good agricultural land.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he can give of the total acreage of land in Scotland available for agricultural use; and how many acres are rented and how many are owner-occupied, respectively.

The most recent information set out below relates to June 1974 for statistically significant holdings and to June 1973 for statistically insignificant holdings which are required to make a census return only every three years.