HC Deb 23 March 1914 vol 60 cc163-4
Mr. HARCOURT

I beg to move "That this House do now adjourn."

Mr. HOGGE

I wish to put one small point to someone representing the Scottish Office. It was not made plain in the Debate, and is very important from the Scottish Liberal point of view. We were told that the Lord Advocate is going to Scotland to-morrow on Government business, and that he would take the opportunity of seeing the solicitor who was in charge of the case against the Lewis cottars, and ascertaining from them whether they had been properly informed in Gaelic, Which is their language, of the undertaking which they were to be asked to give in order to be released from prison. I would like to know exactly what that means and what is the offer to be made to these men, because those of us who have endeavoured to put the position of those men before the House are perfectly prepared to advise them to leave prison by giving an undertaking that they will not again trespass on this particular farm on the distinct understanding that the Secretary for Scotland will give us an undertaking that within six months, or a year at most, he will take such means as will secure land for these particular men in that particular neighbourhood. That is a fair offer. If the Scottish Office is not prepared to do something for these men, which it can do through several instruments which it has in its hands, we shall not advise those men to come out of prison. We shall allow the Government to take all the glorification they can out of locking up Scotsmen varying in age from seventy to that of young lads, dressed in convict clothes, in a criminal prison, for seeking to secure land. I do not know if there is anybody on the Front Bench who can deal with this point. It is not sufficient for either of the Ministers who are present to say, "We will communicate what you have said to our colleagues," because neither of the Ministers now on that bench has heard the greater portion of the Debate or can understand what it is all about. We cannot expect from them any guarantee. Cannot somebody be sent out for the Prime Minister or the Scottish Secretary?

Notice taken that forty Members were not present. House counted, and forty Members not being present, The House was adjourned at Twelve minutes after Ten o'clock, till to-morrow (Tuesday).