§ Major Neven-Spenceasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered an application from Mr. C. H. Tulloch for a small holding on Cliffs Park, Cunningsburgh; and what action he proposes to take?
§ Mr. ElliotThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Mr. Tulloch applied in 1914 for a small holding on the farm of Tow of which Cliffs Park forms part. A scheme for the constitution of one new holding and a number of enlargements on the farm was approved by the Land Court in 1915, but Cliffs Park was excluded from the scheme as it was, and still is, regarded by the estate as an essential adjunct to other land in their possession. It was not found possible to include Mr. Tulloch amongst the successful applicants in connection with the 1915 scheme.
In 1922 Mr. Tulloch applied for a holding at Veensgarth, Tingwall, or at Quendale, Dunrossness, and the tenancy of a holding on the first mentioned farm was offered to him in 1924. He refused this offer and has since, on various occasions, renewed his application for Cliffs Park. Having regard however to the decision of the Land Court in 1915 and the attitude of the estate, I regret that I am precluded from taking action with a view to securing this particular piece of land for Mr. Tulloch.