§ 87. Mr. MACPHERSONasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has received complaints from the Highlands of Scotland calling attention to the fact that though applications for land under the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act have been numerous, and the applicants are suitable, the Board of Agriculture has so far not attempted to satisfy these applicants?
The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. McKinnon Wood)A few such complaints have been received. One can hardly expect that all the applicants will appre- 46 ciate the fact that the work of finding land for a large number of applicants and the performance of the necessary preliminary work by the Board of Agriculture and the Land Court cannot be completed within a few weeks. It must be remembered also that at the beginning of the administration of the Act precedents are being created, and that it is of great importance that the necessary time should be taken to secure that these are the best precedents. I can assure my hon. Friend that the Board is making every effort to overtake the work before it.
§ Mr. HOGGEWill the right hon. Gentleman say what has been done with regard to the promise he made that he would circulate at regular intervals information as to how much land has been applied for and how much granted?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI have circulated the information at certain intervals, and I propose to continue to do so.
Mr. McKINNON WOODI gave the information a few weeks ago to Members of this House, and it will be again given in a similar way.