§ Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that ex-service men in the Lewis have raided land belonging to Lord Leverhulme, who recently bought the island, and have planted potato patches and are erecting cottages; whether he is aware that these men were promised land by recruiting agents if they would enlist; and can he state whether any steps are being taken to fulfil this promise, seing that the men have offered to pay fair rents under the Small Landholders Act for Scotland?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am making en quiries and will let the hon. and gallant Member know the result in due course.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that some of the ex-service men of the Island of Lewis, which has been bought by Lord Leverhulme, have secured passages to Australia, but are unable to emigrate because they have no money with which to purchase an outfit; and will he say whether any fund exists to which these men can apply for assistance?
§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYThe Committee of the National Relief Fund have allocated a grant for assisting British subjects who have suffered hardship through the war, and desire to settle within the Empire overseas or, in certain cases, to emigrate to foreign countries, and would be benefitted by so doing. The grant is being administered by a Joint Committee of the Oversea Settlement Committee and the National Relief Fund, and applications for assistance from the grant must 1315W be submitted through the Civil Liabilities Department (Local Commissioners), Local War Pensions Committees, Local Employment Committees, or some responsible voluntary society or organisation, and must be accompanied by recommendations, based upon adequate inquiry, from the bodies in question. No grants are made to persons proceeding to destinations within the Empire unless the recipients are approved as settlers by the Government of that part of the Empire to which they intend to proceed. The Joint Committee would be prepared to consider applications on behalf of the ex-service men referred to in the hon. and gallant Member's question, and to make grants in suitable cases.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the fact that Sir Robert McAlpine and Sons, contractors at Stornaway for Lord Leverhulme, have on his instructions discharged 60 men because they have come from the district in which ex-Service men have raided Lord Leverhulme's land; and whether any steps are being taken to alleviate the distress caused by these discharges?
§ Mr. MUNROThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I have had no representations as to any distress arising out of these discharges, but the position in the Lewis is receiving my close attention.