§ MR. CHANNINGI beg to ask the Lord-Advocate whether he is aware that 620 the Highlands and Islands Commission, reporting in 1895, recommended that no less than 1,782,785 acres within the crofting counties of Scotland should be scheduled for new holdings, for the extension of existing holdings, and for moderately sized farms, and that a very large proportion of this acreage was then included within deer forests; whether he is aware that between 1898 and 1904, fifty-two wholly new deer forests have been formed, extending to 424,957 acres, while only 15,485 acres appear to have been taken from deer forests for other purposes; whether he can state what is the total number of acres provided for new holdings, or extension of holdings, or moderately sized farms by the Crofters Commission since 1895, and what number of acres so provided were taken out of deer forests; and whether he will consider the advisability of legislation next year to check the extension of deer forests, and to give effect to the recommendations of the Highlands and Islands Commission.
MR. SCOTTDICKSONI am, of course, acquainted with the terms of the Report and of the Return referred to by the hon. Member. I am in communication with the Crofters Commission as to the information desired in the 3rd paragraph of the Question, and on receipt of this I will send it to the hon. Member. Any Question as to legislation for next year should be addressed to the First Lord.
§ MR. CHANNINGCannot the right hon. Gentleman reply to the latter part of the Question? Will he do so if I put it down for Thursday?
§ MR. CHANNINGThen I will put it down for Thursday.
§ MR. WEIRThe right hon. Gentleman has offered to supply the information to the hon. Member privately. That will not do. I also want it.
MR. SCOTT DICKSONIf a starred Question is put down for Thursday, as I have suggested, I hope I may be able to give a full Answer.