HC Deb 05 June 1893 vol 13 cc197-8
SIR CHARLES CAMERON (Glasgow, College)

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the fact that between 70 and 80 notices of removal have been served on behalf of the Duke of Hamilton upon tenants of his in the Island of Arran; whether he is aware that the houses and lands from which these tenants are threatened with eviction have, as a rule, been built and reclaimed without assistance from the landlord; and whether, in view of the urgency of the situation, he will consider the propriety of the Government taking measures to bring Arran under the operation of the Crofters' Act?

THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Sir G. TREVELYAN,) Glasgow, Bridgeton

Notices of removal have been served on 72 tenants of the Duke of Hamilton in the Island of Arran. The tenants, together with the notice, received an invitation to enter into an agreement from year to year which placed them under the obligation to give up the whole or any portion of their holding on one month's notice, receiving compensation for loss of crofts and unexhausted manures, and a suitable deduction from the rent if only a portion of the holding is taken. I believe that the houses of most of these tenants were, as a rule, built by themselves, and are frequently of considerable value; and if the tenants lived in Inverness-shire or Ross-shire they would be crofters under the Act. When the Government legislates again about crofters they will consider carefully the proposal of my hon. Friend to include Arran in the operation of the Act.

MR. MURRAY (Buteshire)

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is no intention of turning any one of these tenants out of their houses?

SIR G. TREVELYAN

I am extremely glad to hear it.