Explanatory Notes

Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Act 2000

2000 asp 5

14 July 2000

Explanatory Notes

Commentary on Sections

Part 3: Feuduties
Section 14: Duty of collecting third party to disclose information

63.This section places a statutory duty on the collector of a feuduty or part of a feuduty to disclose information about the vassals from whom feuduty has been collected and the amount so collected. The collector could be a vassal or a property factor. The duty is not, however, absolute, since the collector could be subject to an obligation of confidentiality or might genuinely have lost the records in a fire or flood. He is therefore required to comply only in so far as it is practical for him so to do. The duty will come into force on Royal Assent (see section 77(1) - short title and commencement) in order to allow a superior time to investigate cumulo feuduties. Most cumulo feuduties which are not formally allocated may be informally apportioned, ie divided up for payment among the various vassals. If a superior collects feuduty directly, the apportionment will be familiar. If collection is carried out by a third party (such as one of the vassals or a factor), the duty to disclose the apportionment to the superior should ensure that the share of the compensation payment is fairly arrived at.