§ MR. ANGUS SUTHERLAND (Sutherland)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether the West Highland Commission has closed its evidence, or at what stage its proceedings now are; whether the Commission has visited the localities on the north coast of Sutherland, promised by the Secretary for Scotland in his letter of 13th March last, and taken evidence regarding the claims of those localities; whether, in view of the recent deplorable loss of life in the said locali- 1295 ties, chiefly through the want of harbour accommodation, the Secretary for Scotland will use his influence to induce the Commission to visit the localities referred to, and report upon their claims; and what steps he proposes to take to redeem the promise in the letter above referred to?
§ *THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. P. B. ROBERTSON,) ButeThe Commissioners are now engaged in preparing a Report, and it is nearly ready. They visited a part of the north coast of Sutherlandshire, that locality being included in the scope of the inquiry, as stated in the letter referred to by the hon. Member. The stormy weather prevented their visiting other parts of that coast. The Secretary for Scotland is necessarily unable, pending the consideration of the Report, to say anything as to the future movement of the Commission.