HC Deb 05 April 1921 vol 140 cc93-4
17. Major MACKENZIE WOOD

asked the Secretary for Scotland the amount of land which has been acquired and is in the occupation of settlers under the Land Settlement Act; how many ex-service men and others have been settled on the land; how much of the land has been bought and at what cost; and how much has been made available under the tenure of the Small Landholders Act, 1911?

The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. Munro)

Under the Land Settlement Act, 1919, the Board of Agriculture for Scotland have acquired 126,387 acres at a cost of £352,861. 12,113 acres on the Board's estates are in occupation of 350 holders, including 311 ex-service men. Under the Small Landholders Acts the Board have settled 1,435 holders, including 184 ex-service men, on an area of 159,367 acres.

Sir J. HOPE

Are those figures under the Small Landholders Acts since the beginning of the Small Landholders Act, or for last year?

Mr. MUNRO

Since the beginning of the Act.

Sir J. HOPE

That is, for the last nine years?

Mr. MUNRO

Yes.

18. Major WOOD

asked the Secretary for Scotland how much of the recent additional grant of £1,000,000 for land settlement in Scotland has been spent; how the money spent has been expended; how much has been used in the purchase of land; how much in making land available for small holdings under the Small Landholders Act, 1911; and how many men have been settled this year on the land under Government schemes of settlement?

Mr. MUNRO

The additional grant to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers is approximately £1,083,000. £750,000 of this sum has yet to be made available by new legislation. No part of the balance of £333,000 has actually been expended. Thirty-four holders have been settled since the 31st December last.

Major WOOD

Are we to understand that the restrictions placed last year by the Board on the operations of the Small Landholders Act have been withdrawn?

Mr. MUNRO

That does not arise out of the question on the Paper. If the hon. and gallant Member will put down a question I will answer it.

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