§ 37. Mr. WATTasked the Secretary for Scotland whether any land was applied for for small holdings in the neighbourhood of Loch Etive; if so, whether the Land Court in Scotland gave its approval and sanction to such application; whether the Commissioner for small holdings has now requested that such application should be withdrawn; and what is the reason alleged for such withdrawal?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe farm of Ichrachan in the parish of Glenorchy and Inishail was applied for; the Land Court gave an order for the constitution of four holdings upon the farm; the Board of Agriculture with my approval abandoned the scheme; the main reason was that the owner had an offer to purchase the farm as a residential estate, and the claims for compensation on this and other grounds would have made the scheme too costly.
§ 41. Mr. WILLIAM YOUNGasked the actual number of small holdings, irrespective of schemes of land settlement under consideration, which have been established in Scotland since the coming into force of the Smal Landholders (Scotland) Act, 1911?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe number of persons settled on new holdings is 160; in addition 99 have been given enlargements. The number about to be settled during this Spring is 162, including 109 applicants for new holdings and 53 for enlargements.
§ 42. Mr. WILLIAM YOUNGasked the number of schemes for land settlement under the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act, 1911, which have been under consideration but have been abandoned as impracticable; and whether he can state the number of schemes for land settlement, and the acreage involved, which are now under negotiation between landowners and the Scottish Board of Agriculture?
Mr. McKINNON WOODUp to 31st December, 1913, six of the proposed schemes had been abandoned. As regards the latter part of the question, I am in communication with the Board of Agriculture for Scotland.
49. Major HOPEasked bow many of the twelve small holdings at Lindean, Selkirk, taken possession of by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland last Whit Sunday, are now occupied by tenants?
Mr. McKINNON WOODNine are at present occupied, and the other three are let to holders, who will come into occupation at Whit Sunday next.
Major HOPEDoes the right hon. Gentleman remember that it was promised in August last they would be occupied, and how docs he account for the delay? Is it owing to the lack of suitable applicants because the Scottish Board cannot give suitable assistance?
Mr. McKINNON WOODNo, it is not because the Board of Agriculture have not given suitable assistance for buildings. I suppose some applicants have changed their minds; they do occasionally.
§ Sir JOHN BARRANCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether in this case far more applicants applied for land than there is land for, and that the applicants are very suitable?
§ Colonel GREIGMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has seen the document signed by smallholders of these very farms, in which they say, "We are 762 perfectly satisfied with our holdings, and, having secured our crops in good condition, we are content"?
50. MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEasked what is the number (by counties) of applications for new holdings under the provisions of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act since it was passed; how many of the applicants were existing smallholders and how many are considered suitable; and how many existing holders have applied for enlargements; how many have been applied for in deer forests, and how many of the latter have been granted and in what forests?
Mr. McKINNON WOODIt would be impossible to give all the information asked for by the Noble Lord within the limits of an oral answer, but I will circulate the figures of applications for new holdings and enlargements with the Votes. I can, however, state the total number of applicants, which is upwards of 8,000, of which between three and four thousand are if or enlargements. Ten applicants, will shortly obtain entry to Arnisdale Deer Forest, but I cannot at the moment state the number of other similar applicants.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEWill the right hon. Gentleman publish the figures as to how many applicants there are for small holdings in deer forests, and how many have been supplied?
§ 52. Sir J. JARDINEasked how many applications for small holdings or extensions of existing holdings have been received from persons in the village of Newcastleton, in the county of Boxburgh; if he can state the number which have been approved and the number of acres which have been found suitable; and whether the negotiations have been completed?
Mr. McKINNON WOODEight persons from the village of Newcastleton have applied for new holdings and four for enlargements. All the applicants have been favourably reported on. None of them will move from Newcastleton; and, so far, no suitable land has been found out of lease and sufficiently near the village, but it is hoped that arrangements will in time be made to accommodate a few of the applicants.
§ 51. Sir JOHN JARDINEasked whether the locating of the small holdings on the 763 300 acres of lands of Heriotfield farm on Miss Scott's estate at Ancruin, in the county of Roxburgh, has yet taken place; and, if so, whether he can state the respective areas and rates of rent per acre; and whether the farmhouse or any of its outbuildings or cottages on this land will be made use of in connection with the small holdings?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe seven new holders entered on the land on 10th February last. The areas and rates of rent per acre of the respective holdings are:—
| Area. | Rate of Rent per acre. | ||||
| No. | A. | R. | P. | s. | d. |
| 1. | 41 | 1 | — | 14 | 9 |
| 2. | 46 | — | 31 | 14 | 7 |
| 3. | 41 | — | 12 | 14 | 7 |
| 4. | 41 | 3 | 18 | 15 | 10 |
| 5. | 40 | 1 | 38 | 15 | 5 |
| 6. | 36 | — | 14 | 22 | 2 |
| 7. | 44 | 2 | 34 | 14 | 9 |
§ The dwelling-house and steading of the farm are not included in the scheme. They have been reserved by the estate. Two cottages on the farm will, however, be used as dwelling-houses by two of the holders.
§ Sir J. JARDINEWhat is being done with the buildings on the farms?