HC Deb 21 March 1895 vol 31 cc1558-9
MR. J. G. WEIR

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether any works have been treated as exceptional cases under Clause 6 of The Western Highlands and Islands (Scotland) Works Acts, 1891; and, if so, will he state how many, the names of the places and works, the cost of each, the amount of the local subscription, and the value of the free labour in each case?

SIR G. O. TREVELYAN

The pier at Golspie, Sutherlandshire, has been treated as exceptional under Clause 6 of the Western Highlands and Islands Works Act of 1891. The original estimate of this work was £2,000, of which Government agreed to pay £1,400. The amount locally subscribed was £600. There, was no free labour promised. While the work was in execution urgent reasons were shown for extending it 50 feet further into the sea at a cost of £400, of which Government were asked to pay £300, raising the estimate to £2,400, of which Government were to pay £1,700. After consulting with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade I considered that this might be treated as an exceptional case, and the larger scheme was sanctioned accordingly.

MR. WEIR

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland if he will state how much of the sum voted last year for works under the Western Highlands and Islands (Scotland) Works Act, 1891, had been expended up to 1st March, 1895?

SIR G. O. TREVELYAN

The sum expended up to March 1, 1895, on works under the Western Highlands and Islands (Scotland) Works Act, 1891, was £5,000.

DR. MACGREGOR (Inverness-shire)

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland if he can now state more definitely when the Report of the Highlands and Islands Commission will be issued; and if he can say how soon he will be able to introduce the Highland Land Bill to be founded on the said Report?

SIR G. O. TREVELYAN

The Report and the evidence of the Highlands and Islands Commission has now been presented to Parliament, and the Stationery Office has been requested to issue the Report at the earliest possible date. I shall introduce the Crofters' Bill at the earliest opportunity that occurs after the report is in the hands of Members.

MR. WEIR

Will the right hon. Gentleman state what the earliest possible date will probably be?

SIR G. O. TREVELYAN

It will be the earliest possible day.