§ SIR J. JARDINE (Roxburghshire)I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the Board has made any suggestions to the County Council of Roxburghshire as to holding inquiries about the demand for small holdings; whether any such inquiry has been made, and at what places; whether any reports have been submitted to the Board; and if he can state the names 1365 and occupations of the persons who held any such inquiries.
I beg also to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he can state what instructions or suggestions have been issued by the Board to the county councils of Scotland as regards commissions of inquiry into the demand and necessity for small holdings; and whether they include any recommendation for securing the presence of farm servants as members of any commissions of inquiry?
§ MR. LAIDLAW (Renfrewshire, E.)May I also ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the Board of Agriculture, whether he is able to say if the Board has issued any recommendations to the county council of Renfrewshire to hold inquiry regarding the demand for small holdings; and, if so, whether any recommendation has been made to secure the presence of one or more farm servants as members of any commission of inquiry that the council might; appoint; and whether he can state if any public inquiry has yet been held in that county and a Report submitted to the Board?
§ THE TREASURER OF THE HOUSE HOLD (SIR EDWARD STRACHEY, Somer setshire)A circular letter was addressed by the Board in February last to all county councils in Great Britain calling attention to the Report of the Departmental Committee on Small Holding's, and in particular to the observations contained therein with respect to the present administration of the Small Holdings Act, 1892. The Committee recommended that an annual inquiry should be made by the Small Holdings Committee of a county council from the minor authorities within the county as to the land occupied by small holders, and as to whether there was a demand for further land for small holdings, and if any land was available for the purpose. The Board suggested that such an inquiry might with advantage be made forthwith. I understand that the county councils of Renfrew and Roxburgh are making inquiries on the lines suggested, but the results have not yet been communicated to the Board. I shall be glad to supply my hon. friends with copies of the Circular in question.