§ DR. CLARK (Caithness)asked the Lord Advocate, Whether he can state the number of cases determined by the Crofters' Commission during the first year of its existence; the number during the second year; the number of cases partially hoard but not decided; and the number of applications still to be considered?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. P. B. ROBERTSON) (Bute)As regards the first 18 months of the operation of the Crofters' Commission, the results are given in the Report to December 10, 1887. As regards the second half of the second year, the materials for information are not with the Scottish Office, but with the Crofters' Commission. Owing to stormy weather and consequent delay in postal communication, we have not yet heard from the Commissioners whether they can supply the particulars desired without interrupting their urgent duties, although from a telegram from the Commissioners I fear that the complication of the details required might be somewhat troublesome. The Commissioners have, however, written, and until receipt of their letter I cannot say more.
§ DR. CLARKMight I ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman if he will 18 get the information from the secretary and clerks to the Commissioners? It is in their books, and is not to be got from the Commissioners themselves?
§ MR. J. P. B. ROBERTSONOf course the information would be derived from the officials of the Commission. At the same time, our application is necessarily made to the Commissioners. I understand the information received by telegram was from one of the officials of the Commission, and shows that the matter might somewhat embarrass the procedure in regard to what is at present being done in Lewis if it were entered into now.