§ MR. AINSWORTH (Argyllshire)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he will consider the advisability of amending and extending the powers of the Congested Districts Board for Scotland by legislation, so as to enable thorn to create and increase small holdings in Scotland, and so moot the demand existing in the Highlands and elsewhere on the part of cottars, crofters, and others to obtain land for their support and to prevent the exodus of families to the large towns and to the Colonies and America.
§ MR WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)At the same time, may I ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he will consider the expediency of introducing an Amendment of the Congested Districts (Scotland) Act to enable the Board to acquire land compulsorily for the creation of new holdings.
§ THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Mr. SINCLAIR,) ForfarshireThe sug- 688 gestions of my hon. friends are not new and, as they are aware, received the sanction of this House as part of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Bill. That Bill expresses the policy of the Government. It has been rejected by the House of Lords, and I am unable to make any further statement upon the subject at present.