25. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Secretary for Scotland if he will state how much of the balance of £394,000 to the credit of the Agriculture (Scotland) Fund is ear-marked for expenditure to which the Board is already committed, or in respect of which it has undertaken the initial steps; and how much is free for the initiation of entirely new development under the Smallholders (Scotland) Act?
Mr. McKINNON WOODMy hon. Friend's question as to expenditure in respect of schemes in regard to which the Board has undertaken the initial steps is, I regret, not one which it is possible for me to answer.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTIs the right hon. Gentleman able to state, with regard to this large sum accumulated out of this revenue for the past three years, whether it is ear-marked or not, or whether it is a quite free balance?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe hon. Member is putting conundrums that neither I nor anybody else can answer. Schemes in their initial stages are sanctioned by me every week, and I cannot reply to the question.
§ Mr. HOGGEIs it not the case that the money could easily have been spent if my right hon. Friend had been given, by his colleagues in the Cabinet, the machinery which would have enabled him to spend this money which is due to Scotland?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI am not prepared to say that; but I am bound to state that I think the money we have is sufficient for our purposes this year.