HC Deb 06 May 1895 vol 33 cc531-2
DR. DONALD MACGREGOR (Inverness-shire)

I beg to ask the, Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the £150,000, voted some years ago by Parliament for emigrating Highland Crofters to British Columbia, is now available to assist in migrating them from the congested districts to the land which a Royal Commission has recently scheduled as suitable for this purpose?

THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Sir GEORGE TREVELYAN,) Glasgow, Bridgeton

I explained to the hon. Member on Thursday last that the £150,000, which the Act of 1892 enabled Parliament to lend to British Columbia, is not available for any other purpose. It is impossible to apply money allotted by Statute to any purpose except that to which the Statute applies it.

DR. MACGREGOR

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider whether it may not be possible hereafter to devote the money to migration rather than to emigration?

SIR GEORGE TREVELYAN

The money is entirely dependent on that Act of Parliament, and as that Act has not been put in force, the money must be said to be not available.

DR. MACGREGOR

Well, some other money equal in amount?