§ DR. MACGREGORI beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he 383 will introduce the Highland Land Bill, and take a First Reading upon it pending the issue of the Report of the Highlands and Islands Commission; and, can he explain why the issue of this Report is so long delayed, and can he take any steps to expedite its production?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUR,) Clackmannan and KinrossIt is not proposed to introduce the Bill until the Report of the Highlands and Islands Commission is in the hands of Members. The maps are now in the hands of the Stationery Office, and will, no doubt, be issued at the earliest possible moment. In the opinion of the Government, the Commission has brought its work to a conclusion as soon as was compatible with its being thoroughly well done.
§ DR. MACGREGORasked why the Report, which was agreed to two months before, had not been issued with more dispatch?
§ MR. J. B. BALFOURsaid, the delay was owing to the preparation of a number of valuable and important maps printed in different colours.
§ DR. MACGREGORasked why the maps had not been put in hand long ago, in order to save this delay?
§ MR. J. B. BALFOURexplained that that was done on the earliest opportunity. Some delay, was however, unavoidable, because these maps covered a large extent of territory.