§ SIR MARK STEWART (Kirkcudbright)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate why the full amount of grant for relief of rates of agricultural occupiers and tenants in Scotland has not yet been paid; what is the cause of the delay; and if he can state when it will be paid?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATEThe hon. Member will remember that in England no fixed grant was given in aid of agricultural rates: the grant was simply one half of such rates raised in 1895–96 in each locality. In Scotland, on the other hand, the grant was an amount fixed as 11–80ths of the English grant. It was therefore impossible to begin the Scottish calculations until the amount of the English grant was known. The calculations were begun as soon as possible, and the great bulk of the Scottish grant was distributed on account at the end of last year. But another consequence of the Scottish grant being fixed in amount is that it cannot be exhaustively distributed until the precise amount of rates that is to be taken as having been raised from agricultural occupiers in each county and parish in 1895–96 is ascertained. Correspondence is still going on regarding the claims of certain parishes. As soon as these are finally settled the Secretary for Scotland will be in a position to distribute the small remaining balance of the grant.