§ Mr. EUGENE WASONasked the Lord Advocate if he could say if any, and, if so, how many, small holdings had been acquired under the Act 55 and 56 Vic, c. 31, in Scotland since 31st December, 1902?
§ The LORD ADVOCATE (.Mr. Ure)I am not aware of any holdings acquired in Scotland under the Small Holdings Act since the date named by my right hon. Friend.
§ Mr. CATHCART WASONCan the Lord Advocate state approximately the number of holdings held under crofting tenure in 1890, 1900, and 1910; and, if such information is not available, in view of the importance of the subject, if the necessary steps may be taken to obtain it?
§ Mr. UREThe number of occupiers of farms at a rental under £30 in each county in Scotland, including the seven crofting counties, is given in the Parliamentary Return No. 127, published in 1907, to which I must refer my hon. Friend, but it is impossible to say how many of these are crofters within the meaning of the Crofters Act without making inquiry into the conditions as to the tenure on which each tenant occupies his holding, which is obviously impracticable.
§ Mr. CATHCART WASONIs it possible for a crofter under the Act to be arbitrarily turned out by a landlord?
§ Mr. CATHCART WASONWould it be possible to ascertain whether the number of crofters in the counties have increased or diminished during the last twenty years?