§ Mr. CHARLES PRICEasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the continued emigration of the rural population of Scotland, which the Scottish Small Landholders Bill was designed to check, and which passed through the House of Commons during two Sessions of Parliament and was rejected by the House of Lords; and whether, as this Bill has been twice submitted to and approved by the electors of Scotland, he will give special facilities for passing this Bill through the present Parliament?
§ Mr. EUGENE WASONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the hon. Member for Peebles and Selkirk (Mr. Donald Maclean) has obtained first place on Friday, 2nd June, and has given notice of a Scottish Small Landholders Bill in the same terms in which it has twice been passed through this House; and whether, if that is so, he can give facilities to give effect to the Second Reading of this Bill?
§ Sir JOHN JARDINEasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of his assurance as regards the Small Landholders (Scotland) Bill, given at the border meeting at Earlston, he can see his way to reintroduce the said Bill at an early opportunity?
§ Major M'MICKINGasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the amount of emigration from the rural districts in Scotland, and of the fact that the Small Landholders (Scotland) Bill, designed to counteract this tendency, passed through the House of Commons in two successive Sessions, he will grant special facilities for the passage of this measure during the present Parliament?
§ Mr. ANNAN BRYCEasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the feeling in Scotland with regard to the necessity of passing the Small Landholders (Scotland) Bill; and whether he will give special facilities for passing this Bill into law so soon as the Parliament Bill has become law?
§ Mr. MOLTENOasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the Small Landholders (Scotland) Bill has been twice passed through the House of Commons and has been before the people of Scotland and endorsed by them at two 1806 General Elections, he will give an assurance that the wishes of the people of Scotland so emphatically expressed shall not be set aside, but shall be pressed forward so that they may be passed into law at the earliest possible opportunity within the lifetime of the present Parliament?
§ Mr. PONSONBYasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Scottish Small Landholders Bill, which was twice rejected by the House of Lords, is the measure of land reform which has the approval of a large majority of the Scottish people; and whether he will use every endeavour to introduce that Bill, and make progress with the discussion of it, at the earliest possible moment?
§ Mr. FALCONERasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that suggestions have been made in favour of the postponement of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Bill until after the passing of a Home Rule Bill for Scotland; that this suggestion has caused apprehension in the minds of the people of Scotland, who are deeply interested in land reform; and whether he will give an assurance that the Small Landholders Bill of the Government will be proceeded with at the earliest possible opportunity, and will not be postponed as suggested?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe pressing importance of this subject, which is alluded to by my hon. Friends is, I believe, admitted on all hands. I repeat the assurance I have already given that the Government are fully alive to the urgency of this matter, and that they have every hope that the necessary legislation will pass into law during the present Parliament. I have publicly intimated at Earlston and elsewhere that they are willing to consider any amendments from any quarter not inconsistent with the general principles of our Bill.
§ Mr. YOUNGERHas it been brought to his notice that this side of the House is perfectly ready to discuss this subject in a friendly way?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI hope so.