Mr. CATHCART WASONasked if there are any definite instructions laid down with reference to buildings that might be required for a small holding; and, if so, will he make them public?
Mr. McKINNON WOODNo definite instructions have been laid down by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland with reference to such buildings, but all plans for them require to receive the approval of the Board.
Mr. C. WASONCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether an iron or wooden building is considered sufficient, or will it be necessary to have stone or brick?
§ 41. Mr. HOGGEasked the number of new small holdings which have been created in the crofting counties and the Lowland counties of Scotland, respectively, as distinct from schemes of land settlement in respect of which the Board of Agriculture have applied to the Land Court, since the coming into force of the Small Landholders Act in April of last year?
Mr. McKINNON WOODIn the crofting counties twenty-eight new holdings and six enlargements, and in the rest of Scotland six new holdings, have been formed by agreement with the help of the Board's funds and without the Board going to the Land Court for an Order. I have no information as to holdings formed voluntarily outside the Act.
§ 42. Mr. HOGGEasked what proportion of the £206,000 which is annually at the disposal of the Scottish Board of Agriculture was spent last year in the setting up of new small holdings in Scotland?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe whole of the money available is practically appropriated for schemes in hand, though, in the circumstances of the case, the amount actually expended is necessarily small.
§ Mr. WATTMay I ask whether, if this £206,000 is not utilised in one year, it is carried forward to another year or whether it is lost?
Mr. McKINNON WOODOh, yes, certainly, and part of the £206,000 has gone to other general purposes of agriculture.
§ Sir J. JARDINEMay I ask whether a larger portion of the sum may not in future be appropriated to the Small Holdings Act for providing more sub-inspectors and otherwise?
Mr. McKINNON WOODYes, the greater part is devoted to that purpose, and I hope that we shall be allowed to appoint more sub-inspectors soon.
§ 43. Mr. HOGGEasked what sums, in addition to the salaries of the commissioner and sub-commissioners of small holdings, who are paid by the Treasury, were spent last year in investigating the claims and circumstances of applicants for small holdings?
Mr. McKINNON WOODIt is not possible to give this figure; the items cannot be precisely differentiated.
§ 44. Mr. HOGGEasked the Secretary for Scotland whether His Majesty's Government agree with the Report of the Scottish Board of Agriculture that the demand for land settlement is far in excess of the present resources of the fund at the disposal of the Board; and whether he has approached the Treasury with a view to securing an additional Grant for the purpose of carrying out the objects of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI believe the fact is as stated in the Report, and the question referred to is engaging my attention.
§ 50. Mr. HOGGEasked whether the Scottish Board of Agriculture are of opinion that the issue of four explanatory leaflets and the occasional visits of the commissioner and sub-commissioners of small holdings form the most effective means of popularising the Small Landholders Act, especially in the Lowland counties of Scotland; and whether, in view of the admitted success of the methods employed to popularise the National Insurance Act, similar methods will be adopted to make the Act known and understood in those counties?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe best advertisement is the successful establishment of small holdings. I do not think that the case of the Insurance Act is analogous. Applications are still coming in in considerable numbers.