§ SIR JOHN DEWAR (Inverness)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that the Deer Forests Commissioners scheduled the Island of Vatersay as suitable land for small holdings; whether the inhabitants of the district have repeatedly asked Lady Gordon Cathcart, with a view to relieving the serious congestion of population, to create small holdings on the island, and whether she has refused to do so; whether, on the passing of the Parish Councils Act of 1892, the parish council of Burra petitioned Lady Gordon Cathcart to the same effect and with a similar result; whether the said parish council then petitioned the county council of Inverness, requesting them to put their compulsory powers for the acquisition of land for small holdings under the Act of 1894 into operation; whether a committee of the county council of Inverness then visited the island, and, after an exhaustive inquiry of nine days duration, reported to the effect that land was urgently needed, that the Island of Vatersay was suitable for small holdings, and could be used for this purpose with advantage; whether the county council refused to adopt the report of their own committee; and whether he will lay the various petitions and reports upon the Table of the House along with the letters already called for.
§ THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Mr. SINCLAIR,) ForfarshireSo far as I am aware, the facts are broadly as stated in the Question. It should be added that recently at the instance of the Government the proprietrix offered to place the island in the hands of the Congested Districts Board for settlement by tenants, but on terms which the Government have 346 not been able to accept. With reference to the publication of the proceedings of the county council of Inverness-shire, I am in communication with that body.