§ Mr. WEIRasked the Prime Minister, having regard to the fact that landless cottars, descendants of evicted crofters, comprise 25 per cent, of the population of 30,000 in the island of Lewis, and that the greater number of these cottars would be debarred from securing new holdings under the terms of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Bill, owing to their inability to equip, stock, and cultivate a holding, will he state whether the Government propose to introduce legislation such as will admit of the landless cottars of Lewis and the Highlands and Islands of Scotland being settled on the land?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am not able to accept the premises of my hon. Friend's question, and I am not aware that the greater number of those Lewis cottars who desire to rent such holdings would be un- 846 able to equip, stock, and cultivate them. The policy of the Government, as embodied in the Small Landholders Bill, provides facilities for the creation of new holdings, and offers Government aid for the promotion of such schemes.
§ Mr. WEIRIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the majority of these poor people are unable to equip and stock small holdings?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI said I am not aware that the greater number of these Lewis cottars who desire to rent such holdings would be unable to equip stock and cultivate them.
§ Mr. WEIRWill the right hon. Gentleman inquire into the matter, and will he do something to prevent this trouble in the island of Lewis, instead of sending down gunboats to be used upon those unfortunate people?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI will attend to any representations of fact that my hon. Friend may supply.
§ Mr. WATTMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if his attention has been called to the Bill brought into another place on the subject, and to the wisdom of compromise on the matter?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member must give notice.