46. Captain TERRELLasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the slow progress in the settlement on the land of ex-service men; and whether, in view of the fact that this was one of the Coalition election promises in 1918, he can take steps to stimulate the activities of local authorities?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am unable to accept the suggestion that slow progress has been made with the Government's scheme of land settlement. Since the Armistice 10,424 men have been settled in England and Wales, and land has been acquired which will provide for a further 8,000 men, a large proportion of whom would have been settled by now but for the grave difficulties and delays in the erection of cottages and farm buildings. I think these figures show that the Government is keenly alive to the importance of fulfilling the pledge to ex-service men given at the election of 1918. Every means is being employed to stimulate the activities of local authorities, most of whom are attacking their difficult task with great energy, and Members of Parliament could give material assistance by stimulating the efforts of local authorities in their constituencies.
Captain TERRELLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, in spite of the large number who have been settled on the land, there are tens of thousands of ex-service men who have applied for land and whose applications have not yet been considered?
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is great dissatisfaction in Scotland at the action of the Board, which has been extraordinarily slow, and that there are in the Highlands thousands of men who have been bred on 840 the land and who want to get small holdings and cannot get them?
§ Major O'NEILLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is very great dissatisfaction in Ireland with regard to the administration of the Special Act passed for Ireland to give land to ex-soldiers?
§ Mr. MILLSWill the right hon. Gentleman take steps to ascertain how many available huts there are ready for immediate use, and which could be utilised by this Department; and how far the Ministry of Munitions and the Disposal Board have prevented the settlement of men on the land in the county of Essex?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is a question which was considered long ago. There is not very much in it, as I thought myself at one time there might have been. I wish it could have been possible to have used more from those sources but I was disappointed as to the possibilities when I made inquiries. With regard to Scotland, I realise that there is some disappointment in the Highlands of Scotland, and that is being specially looked into at the present time and I trust that hopeful steps will result. It is not correct to say, as my hon. and gallant Friend (Captain Terrell) has said, that there are the numbers indicated by him of men whose cases have not been looked into. With regard to Ireland, I am surprised to hear there is any dissatisfaction. I have no special information with regard to it, but I will look into the matter.
Captain TERRELLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are hundreds of cases in Oxfordshire alone which have not yet been dealt with? It is true what I am saying.
§ The PRIME MINISTERThere is a great difference between hundreds of cases in Oxfordshire and tens of thousands of cases.
§ The PRIME MINISTERMy information is that the statement made by the hon. and gallant Member is not strictly in accordance with the information at the disposal of the Department. We are 841 exceedingly anxious to settle soldiers on the land. I think it is most desirable. As a matter of fact there have been more people settled on the land by Government action in the last two years than in the previous 30 years, but it is not a very easy matter. There is the question of finance to be looked into, there is the difficulty with regard to land, and, in addition, there is the difficulty of finding the men. It is no use putting men on the land who have had no previous training and who know nothing at all about it. That is only really encouraging failure. The first thing to do is to see that they are trained.