§ MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether instructions will be given that the facts collected by the Deer Forest Commission with respect to the former and present extension of doer forests and sheep farms, and with respect especially to lands which have been, or might be, occupied by crofters, be not merely recorded in the Report of the Commissioners, but visibly presented in colours, or otherwise, upon map sheets corresponding to those of the Ordnance Survey of the districts visited?
§ THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Sir G. TREVELYAN, Glasgow, Bridgeton)The Commission, as they proceed with their work, are in the course of preparing maps, which will fully explain the Report which they will submit.
§ DR. MACGREGOR (Inverness-shire)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he can now state approximately when the Deer Forest Commission will be able to report to the House on the subjects referred to it; for consideration; whether the Crofters Commission could make such arrangements as will lead to the more rapid progress of fixing fair rents in the districts not yet overtaken; and whether the Government will take steps without delay to legislate on the Land Question in the Highlands, and thus meet the requirements of the fishing and agricultural population?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANThe Commission cannot report at present, but, by the light of the experience of the heavy and important work which they have done, they are considering the best means for expediting their work in the future. The Commissioners have now only 787 fair rents to dispose of. Of these, a large number will be cleared by the end of the year. I fear that it must be evident to the hon. Member that the Government cannot find time at present to introduce crofter legislation.
§ DR. MACGREGORasked whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware that, in consequence of the delay, the Highland people were losing confidence in the Government—the sympathy of the Conservative Party with that remark was suspicious—and whether nothing could be done to press forward the work of the Commissioners?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANThe Commissioners are at this moment engaged considering how they may proceed faster. But they have proceeded very fast indeed. They have thoroughly examined all the Island of Skye and all the great deer forests of Inverness-shire and Ross-shire. They are now engaged in Caithness-shire, and they hope they will I have done both that county and Sutherlandshire by the end of this season. I think that is an immense amount of work, when yon consider that every one of the Commissioners has visited every one of these districts.
§ DR. MACGREGORthought, in view of the fact that the Commission had been appointed nearly a year, it was time something was done.
§ MR. WEIRasked whether the Commission would include the Island of Lewis in the district of Sutherland and Caithness?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANCaithness and Sutherland are the two districts the Commission is next going to deal with. I cannot say what they will do after that.
§ MR. A. C. MORTONasked whether the Report of the Commission would be ready for the Autumn Session?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANThe hon. Member will see from the replies I have already given that it is absolutely impossible.