§ Mr. MORTON (for Mr. Weir)asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Highland crofting population continue to suffer through the delay in securing to them access to the land; and will he state 694 whether the Government propose to introduce legislation this Session to deal with the land question in the Highlands and Islands, and other parts of Scotland?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIn the judgment of the Government, the passage into law of their proposed land legislation would have conferred great benefits not upon the Highlands alone but upon Scotland as a whole, and the urgent need for such legislation on the lines which they laid recently before Parliament is unchanged. But in view of the main business of this Session, in which Scotland is no less interested than other parts of the United Kingdom, I fear that it is not probable that time will be available for the purpose indicated by my honourable Friend.
§ Mr. MORRELLWill the right hon. Gentleman remember that the question of the desirability of giving access to the land is not confined to Scotland?
§ Mr. WATTMay I ask why England should have a Land Bill and Ireland should have a Land Bill, while Scotland is not to have one?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe hon. Gentlemen have forgotten that we have twice passed a Land Bill for Scotland.