§ Mr. WEIRasked the Lord Advocate whether he has received a memorial from small holders at Knockrash, in the parish of Kiltearn, Boss-shire, protesting at the new burdens imposed on them under a recent valuation for the purpose of augmenting the minister's stipend; and will he consider the expediency of introducing legislation such as will exempt from minister's stipend and other church burdens all lands that have or may be acquired in Scotland under The Small Holdings Act, 1892, or under any subsequent Act?
§ The LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. Ure)The memorial has been received at the Scottish Office. The augmentation has been granted in ordinary process of law; and the question of exempting any class 1514 of proprietors from a common burden of ownership, subject to which they acquire the land, is one that would require more consideration than the Government are prepared to give to it at the present time.
§ Mr. WEIRasked whether the Secretary for Scotland is aware that the rates for the parishes of Uig, Lochs, and Barvas, Island of Lewis, have increased since last year from 16s. 3d. in the pound, 15s. 11d. in the pound, and 17s. 9d. in the pound respectively, to 19s. 2d. in the pound, 25s. 2d. in the pound, and 28s. 10d. in the pound respectively; and, in view of the breakdown of local government in the island, in consequence of owners and occupiers being unable to meet their share in these assessments, will he now state what action the Government propose to take in the matter?
§ Mr. UREAs a matter of fact the increase in the rate per £ has not been accompanied by a corresponding increase in the actual amount of rates requiring to be raised, and I cannot assent to the suggestion that local government in the Lews has broken down, or that there is a general inability to pay the rates. I do not, however, wish the inference to be drawn that the Government is not alive to the serious danger to the recognised system of local administration which the necessity of levying such high rates involves. The question is receiving the consideration of the Government, but I am not able to make any further statement.
§ Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSONCan the right hon. Gentleman say when he is likely to be in a position to make a statement as to how the finances of these islands is to be kept up?
§ Mr. YOUNGERCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is possible to carry on local government under the conditions described in this House, and if the rates are to be levied at that rate whether the Treasury cannot grant some relief in this case?
§ Mr. UREMy hon. Friend knows that the valuation is low, and that though the poundage is high it does not follow that the amount levied is very great because the poundage is high; but undoubtedly the question is a very serious one.
§ Sir JOHN DEWARWill the Government not consider the- advisability of adopting in this case the same course that 1515 was followed when under similar circumstances educational matters broke down in some of these places, and whether they could not manage to make some alteration so as to relieve the ratepayers of their intolerable burden?