MR. CATHCART WASONI beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland if he will consider what Amendment, if any, is necessary in the Small Landholders Bill to enable cottars, fishermen, and agricultural labourers, to obtain a small holding; and if he will bear in mind the decision of the court in Gilman v. Peterson, by which, owing to some ambiguity of words, probably the majority of crofters were placed at great disadvantage.
§ MR. SINCLAIRSubsection (1) of Clause 9 of the Bill was designed to meet the decision referred to by the hon. Member and I think it does so. As regards cottars, fishermen and agricultural labourers, they have the same right to apply for a small holding as anyone else and to obtain one if duly qualified.
MR. CATHCART WASONasked whether it was possible under the provisions of the Bill as it stood for a landlord to decline to accede to an application.
§ * MR. SPEAKERI think the hon. Member should raise that point on the Bill itself.