§ 1. "That a sum, not exceeding £8,111, be granted to Her Majesty, to complete the sum necessary to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending 787 on the 31st day of March 1898, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Office of Her Majesty's Secretary for Scotland and Subordinate Offices."
Mr. JOHN McLEOD (Sutherland)asked for an explanation as to how it came about that after the Secretary for Scotland had given a certain provisional promise to sanction certain public works in the Island of Lewis, no provision was made in the Estimates for carrying out these works. The local parties concerned had expended considerable sums of money in advertising these works, in preparing plans, and in making all the arrangements necessary to entitle them to obtain the grant provided for under the Highlands and Islands Act of 1891. The refusal to implement the Secretary for Scotland's promise was likely to have a very evil effect in the district. The County Council of Ross and Inverness and the Lews had made representations to the Scottish Office in regard to this matter and as it was a matter peculiarly personal to the Secretary for Scotland, it was unfortunate he could not be present to answer for himself.
§ *THE LORD ADVOCATEsaid that, as he had already explained on the Highlands and Islands Vote, the reason why the Estimate was diminished this year was that the £170,000 which the Treasury had undertaken to pay had been exhausted. But though the Vote had been diminished assistance was being given to the Highlands and Islands in another way—namely, in the form of the grant of £35,000 for congested districts. The Secretary for Scotland had no power to enter into engagements as to any particular work, and the hon. Member was quite right in saying that it was only a provisional promise, though even that term was perhaps a little too strong. He was very sorry if any money already spent in the locality should be wasted, but if it were it was just one of the risks incidental to the situation. Before any consent could be given the money must be voted by Parliament to carry out the work. Not sufficient money was voted to go on with the work, but they were entering upon a new chapter, so to speak, in the Congested Districts Bill, and, although he could understand the feeling of disappointment in the Highlands, he did not think that anyone could justly attribute any blame to the noble Lord the Secretary for 788 Scotland, because all that was done by the Scotch Office was to give a sort of preliminary consideration to the matter, which could scarcely be called even a provisional consent. As to the presence of the Secretary for Scotland in the House of Commons, that was not for him to go into, but it seemed to him to raise the point as to whether they were to have any Ministers in the House of Lords at all.
§ *MR. J. G. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)said he was greatly disappointed with the right hon. Gentleman's speech. H the Secretary for Scotland or the right hon. Gentleman would only approach the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary to the Treasury, more money would be got for Scotland. A little more firmness was all that was necessary. He did not approve of the policy of robbing Peter to pay Paul. He therefore asked, why should not the money for the works in the Highlands be provided outside the money to be given under the Congested Districts Bill?
MR. McLEODsaid there was not a single word in the Act of 1891 about £170,000. There was nothing in the Act to prevent the Secretary for Scotland giving the money.
§ Resolution agreed to.
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§ Resolutions agreed to.