§ 13. Mr. JAMES HOGGEasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that there is plenty of suitable land for three times the number of applicants for small holdings in the island of Coll; whether not a single holding has been created there; and whether he hopes to deal with the applications from that island before the November term?
The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. McKinnon Wood)I am aware that there is land in Coll suitable for small holdings. No new holdings have as yet been formed there, but the Board of Agriculture have applied to the Land Court for orders to constitute some new holdings and enlargements on three farms there, and proposals to subdivide certain 268 other farms there are also under consideration. I cannot give an undertaking as regards the matter referred to in the last part of the question.
§ 14. Mr. JAMES HOGGEasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has received a request from, Mr. Donald Shaw, as representing several hundreds of applicants for small holdings in the North and West of Scotland, to meet him in deputation concerning various grievances regarding the administration of the Small Landholders' Act; and when he proposes to meet the same?
Mr. McKINNON WOODAfter hearing from Mr. Shaw, I gave him an opportunity of seeing me in Glasgow, which, however, did not happen to be convenient to him. I cannot say how many applicants he represents. I hope to be in Edinburgh shortly, when I shall be able to see if a mutually convenient time can be arranged.
§ 15. Mr. JAMES HOGGEasked whether the Board of Agriculture has submitted a scheme for settlement to the Land Court with regard to the farm of Esligarry, in Barra, and another with regard to the farm of Miltown, in South Uist; whether the Court decided that certain of the applicants could not be accepted; whether the Board of Agriculture has so far refused to say which these were; and whether they will now indicate these applicants in order that they may make other arrangements?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Board will not be in a position effectively to negotiate with applicants for their settlement on holdings unless and until the Land Court issue orders making the land available, which they have not yet done. Under these circumstances the Board cannot yet announce any selection of qualified applicants.
§ Mr. HOGGEIs it the case that the Board had decided that certain applicants cannot be accepted, and, if so, would it, not be a convenience to those applicants to be made aware of the fact, so that they may apply for other lands?
§ 17. Mr. JAMES HOGGEasked the Secretary for Scotland whether the farm of Baugh, Tiree, consisting of 230 acres, has been apportioned as follows: Three enlargements amounting in all to 23.6 acres, five new holdings amounting to 41 acres, and the remainder, 166 acres, to a merchant squatter who applied to the proprietor; whether the son of the previous occupier applied for a holding and was refused; and whether, seeing this farm was vacant, and in view of the desirability of creating confidence in the administration of the new Act, he will explain why this action was taken?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe existing farm of Baugh has been subdivided in the manner described, the tenant of the farm who had obtained a lease as from Whit Sunday, 1913, prior to the Board's application for land agreed not to oppose the taking of 64 acres provided he was left in occupation of the rest of the farm. It is the case that the son of a previous tenant of the farm applied for a holding and was refused. His application was received after arrangements had been concluded with the proprietor and the tenant of the farm and a selection of the applicants had been made.
§ Mr. HOGGECan the right hon. Gentleman say in this case why when this farm was available for small holdings 166 acres were given to a squatter merchant?
§ 19. Mr. JAMES HOGGEasked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in view of the fact that the competitive designs for houses and buildings suitable for small holdings in Scotland have been adjudicated upon, the Board of Agriculture propose to make such designs available in any convenient form to the public in the near future.
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe Board are proposing to prepare for distribution a standard set of plans, for which the submitted designs will be used.
Mr. McKINNON WOODI do not know that they will be issued in leaflet form, but it will be in a form convenient to the tenants.