§ MR. ANDERSON (Elgin and Nairn)asked the Lord Advocate, Will the Government agree to a Return of the number of Crofters and Cottars in the Counties of Elgin, Nairn, Banff, Aberdeen, Perth, and Stirling?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. H. A. MACDONALD) (Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities)As I have repeatedly stated in this House, the expressions "crofter" and "cottar" do not convey the same meaning in different parts of Scotland. Such a Return as the hon. Member proposes would, therefore, be misleading. Besides, there is no machinery for taking such a Return, and the Government, therefore, cannot assent to it.
§ MR. ANDERSONasked, whether the words did not convey the same meaning in the Counties of Elgin and Nairn, Banff and Aberdeen.
§ MR. J. H. A. MACDONALDsaid, he could not name the counties; but it was undoubtedly the case that the words had not the same meaning in all the counties referred to in the Question.