Captain MURRAYasked the number of crofters holding crofts in the crofting counties at the commencement of the years 1888 and 1908, respectively?
§ Mr. UREI can only refer my hon. Friend to the returns of Occupiers of Farms (Scotland), House of Commons Papers, Nos. 127 and 127 (1) of 1907, which give the numbers of occupiers of farms at rentals up to £30 a year in each county of Scotland, including the crofting counties. There are, however, no means of ascertaining how many of these are crofters within the meaning of the Crofters Act except by inquiry into the conditions of tenure in individual cases, which is quite impracticable.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEDo not the Government keep the statistics of these farms practically under their own control?