HC Deb 21 July 1908 vol 192 cc1725-6
MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland,

Rates. Arrears of Assessment due by.
1. Major Matheson. 2. Tenants over £30 Rental. Tenants under £30 Rental.
£ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d.
County Rates— 1,364 19 4 81 7 7 919 12 5
(Ross and Cromarty)
Parish Rates—
Stornoway 844 18 10 57 0 9 653 6 3
Uig 1,550 19 0 66 1 10 363 6 4
Lochs 1,350 11 6 16 0 2 237 5 5
Barvas 752 0 4 26 14 8 845 19 1

A portion of the above arrears has been paid since 31st March last. I have no

having regard to the fact that farm lands in the Island of Lewis to the extent of 19,631 acres are not under lease, will the Congested Districts Board communicate with the proprietor with a view to these farms being broken up, especially bearing in mind that the Deer Forests Commissioners scheduled the bulk of this land as suitable for new holdings.

I beg also to ask the Secretary for Scotland, in view of the fact that the families of the landless cottars in the Lews represent a population of 7,500, equivalent to 25 per cent, of the inhabitants of the island, will he state why the Congested Districts Board have not secured land for more than thirty-two new holdings and twenty-nine fishermen's dwellings, seeing that there are numerous farms not under lease available.

THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Mr. SINCLAIR,) Forfarshire

I may inform the hon. Member I am taking steps to ascertain the views of the proprietor on the subject.