§ MR. DARLING (Deptford)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the action of the Lewis District Committee with regard to compensation to crofters affected by the making of a road from Stornoway to Carloway; is it the fact, as alleged, that the Government granted £15,000 for the making of this road in the interest of the crofters; that the owner of the land required no compensation; that the crofters of Brease-lete were awarded by the arbiter a sum calculated on 40 years' purchase of their interest; whether after this it was determined by the District Committee to award compensation at the rate of 280 years' purchase of the crofters' interest; and whether the crofters of Breaselete are to be paid at this rate?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANMy attention has been called to the matter referred to by the hon. Member. The facts, as alleged, are not accurate in one essential point. The arbiters referred the dispute that arose over their original valuation to an oversman, who decided in favour of 529 the compensation which was finally awarded to the Breaselete crofters by the Lewis District Committee. The County Council have, according to their last letter, not yet approved of the action of the District Committee, and I am at present in communication with them on the subject.
§ In reply to a further question,
§ SIR G. TREVELYANsaid, none of the money would come out of the taxpayers' pockets.