§ MR. ANGUS SUTHERLAND (Sutherlandshire)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the fact that the Royal Commission (Highlands and Islands) 1884, reported regarding the distribution of land as follows:
The principal matter of dissatisfaction in connection with the occupancy of land urged on our notice in almost every district is the restriction in the area of the holdings;that the Crofters Commission in their Special Report on the Enlargement of Holdings, during the last Session of Parliament, reported as follows—As to the causes which have prevented applications for enlargement being lodged in any number, we are of opinion that one of the main causes is to be found in the Act;and that the people have never ceased to make representations on the subject, Her Majesty's Government will, during the Parliamentary Recess, consider the advisability of introducing legislation at an early period next Session to remedy the acknowledged defects of the Crofters Holdings Act in the matter of the redistribution of the land.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN,) St. George's, Hanover SquareIn the absence of my right hon. Friend the First Lord of the Treasury, I have to say that the Government cannot undertake to give any pledge with regard to this subject.