§ DR. MACGREGOR (Invernessshire)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland if he can now state when the Government propose to introduce their promised Bill to amend the Crofters Act; if he can say what progress the Deer Forest Commission has made since last Report; and whether the presence of two of the Commissioners for some 301 time here in London interferes with the proceedings of the said Commission?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANThe Deer Forest Commission have now concluded their inquiry in Argyllshire, having already dealt with districts of Inverness-shire, Ross-shire, Caithness, and Sutherland. They meet to-day in Edinburgh, and I hope that the two Commissioners referred to by the hon. Member will be present. As regards the Bill to amend the Crofters Act, I have on previous occasions answered several questions, and I can only say that ample notice will be given of the intentions of the Government.
§ DR. MACGREGORIs not the Government pledged to introduce the Bill this Session?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANThe Government is pledged, so far as human pledges can be carried out, to introduce a Bill extending the advantages of the Crofters Act to crofter leaseholders.
§ DR. MACGREGORDoes not the failure to introduce it amount to a breach of faith?
§ SIR D. MACFARLANE (Argyll)Was it not understood on the 27th of April that an endeavour would be made to engraft the two provisions contained in my Resolution on the Crofters Act? Did not the right hon. Gentleman then indicate he would engraft on the Bill provisions dealing with enlarged holdings and bringing more crofters under the Act?
§ DR. MACGREGORDid the hon. Member for Argyllshire on that occasion not express his satisfaction with the Government? and did he not in consequence decline to put them to the trouble of a Division on the subject?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANThe Motion of the hon. Gentleman referred to a much larger Bill by which to carry out the proposals then made, and that Bill cannot be introduced until information has been obtained from the Commission.
§ DR. MACGREGORAre we to conclude that the Government have no intention to introduce a Bill this Session?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANWhat Bill?
§ DR. MACGREGORThe Bill to enlarge the terms of the Crofters Act, and to bring in the leaseholders.
§ [No answer was given.]
§ DR. MACGREGORI feel, as the Representative of a large crofting county much disappointed—
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!