§ MR. A. SUTHERLAND (Sutherland)asked the Lord Advocate, What are the intentions of Her Majesty's Government with regard to emigration from the Highlands of Scotland?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. H. A. MACDONALD) (Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities)The Government have had under their serious consideration a scheme of crofter and cottar emigration for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland which has been drawn up by the Secretary for Scotland. Some 1648 points of difficulty have arisen in the course of the negotiations with regard to the security offered for the payment of the interest demanded on the capital proposed to be advanced by the Government so as to insure the Exchequer against loss. The Secretary for Scotland hopes to overcome this difficulty by obtaining, if possible, a guarantee from Local Authorities, or otherwise, for the additional security required; and if this very desirable object can be attained the Government will be ready to carry out the proposed scheme next Session, and, if necessary, to introduce legislation for the purpose.
§ MR. A. SUTHERLANDasked the right hon. and learned Gentleman, if his attention had been called to the correspondence between the Foreign Office and the authorities of the United States with regard to the emigration of crofters to the United States of America, and also to a letter which appeared in the correspondence from Messrs, Henderson Brothers?
§ MR. J. H. A. MACDONALDI am not able to answer the Question at all, except to say, in regard to the answer I have given, it does not relate to any emigration to the United States.