§ 8. Mr. OUTHWAITEasked the Secretary for Scotland the number of applications for small holdings in Scotland, under the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act; the area applied for; the number of applicants satisfied; and the area allotted, together with the administrative cost incurred in connection therewith?
Mr. McKINNON WOODUp to 31st December, 1914, there were 5,473 applicants for new holdings and 3,857 for enlargement of existing holdings. The area applied for cannot be stated, because many applicants do not say how much land they want. Four hundred and thirty-four applicants for new holdings and 239 for enlargements had obtained entry by the end of the year, the total area allotted being over 48,000 acres. The administrative expenses of the Board of Agriculture for Scotland for the financial years 1912–13 and 1913–14 were £20,434 and £32,652, respectively, but this includes the expenditure, not for small holdings only, but for all its varied duties, in regard to which I would refer my hon. Friend to the Reports of the Board. The Civil Service Estimates contain further particulars as to these and also as to the cost of the Land Court. The salaries of the chairman and members of that Court are on the Consolidated Fund.