HC Deb 01 July 1908 vol 191 cc767-9
MR. WEIR

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland, in view of the fact that it is now upwards of four years since the Scottish Office informed the Lewis district committee that the only way of dealing with the cottar difficulty was by a scheme of voluntary migration to the mainland, will he explain why he has made no effort to acquire land for the development of some such scheme, especially bearing in mind that a considerable time has elapsed since he was furnished with a list of Lewis cottars who are anxious to migrate to the mainland.

I beg also to ask the Secretary for Scotland, in view of the fact that it is now upwards of four years since the Scottish Office informed the Lewis district committee that the only way of dealing with the cottar difficulty was by a scheme of voluntary migration to the mainland, and of the statement of the Secretary for Scotland that he saw a difficulty in finding crofters and cottars at once both desirous to migrate and possessed of the requisite qualification, will he state briefly the qualifications required of cottar migrants; and will he say if any effort has yet been made to ascertain the qualifications of the numerous cottars on the list, furnished to him some time, since, of those willing to migrate to the mainland.

MR. SINCLAIR

In reply to these Questions I have nothing to add to the Answers given to my hon. friend on 22nd and 23rd June. In the meantime the matter lies with the Landward Committee.

MR. WEIR

I should be obliged if the right hon. Gentleman would not shunt me on to the Landward Committee. The right hon. Gentleman must know——

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order. The hon. Member must know he is not entitled to make a speech.

MR. WEIR

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of looking into this matter himself, and not giving me Answers of this character?

MR. SPEAKER

I must ask the hon. Member to put his Question in a courteous way, and when he receives a reply not to comment on it.

MR. WEIR

In consequence of the unsatisfactory reply I have received I beg to give notice that I shall take the earliest opportunity of calling attention to the negligence of the right hon. Gentleman.