Section 56: Extinction etc. of certain payments analogous to feuduty
181.This section applies the provisions of Part 3 of the Act on extinction of feuduties to other payments which, although non-feudal in nature, have similar characteristics. The section follows the approach in the Land Tenure Reform (Scotland) Act 1974, but adds teinds and stipend to the list of burdens being dealt with.
182.Ground annual is a perpetual payment secured on land and due to a person not otherwise connected with that land. The owner of property burdened with a ground annual does not, however, hold title from the creditor on a ground annual in the same way as a vassal holds title from a superior. Most land subject to a ground annual is itself held on feudal tenure. Extinction of a ground annual will extinguish the security for payment and leave the land unencumbered.
183.Skat is a tribute under udal tenure which equates to feuduty under feudal tenure. In the case of skat, however, this would normally be payable directly to the Crown. Payment of skat has survived only on Orkney and Shetland.
184.Teinds were originally one-tenth of the annual produce of land and were used towards the support of the clergy and after the Reformation towards the minister's stipend. With the standardisation of stipend, teinds are of little or no value. The stipend of a standard value - "standard charge" - is constituted as a real burden on those lands in favour of the General Trustees of the Church of Scotland and is payable at Whitsunday and Martinmas.
185.The section also specifically applies to dry multures which are an annual payment derived from thirlage.
186.Subsection (4) makes it clear that the extinction of the payments referred to in this section does not affect the underlying right to hold, occupy or use the land.
