HC Deb 27 April 1920 vol 128 cc1036-7
88. Major W. MURRAY

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether a transfer to the Scottish Board of Agriculture of the land at Gretna designed for smallholdings will be carried out prior to the conditional sale of such land to an agricultural company; and whether in the event of such sale taking place the Scottish Board of Agriculture will reserve powers to approve the terms upon which smallholders may be established, and to resume possession of the land should smallholdings not be formed upon it within a fixed period and Scottish smallholders be settled thereon?

The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. Munro)

No transfer to the Board is proposed; but negotiations are proceeding with a view to the adjustment of an agreement on the lines contemplated in my reply to my hon. and gallant Friend of 30th March.

Major MURRAY

Will my right hon. Friend give the guarantees mentioned in the latter part of the question?

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Gentleman should put that question down.