§ 30. Sir A. SINCLAIRasked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether he is aware of the condition of the crops in the crofting counties of Scotland owing to the cold and wet weather during the summer; whether the Board of Agriculture have at their disposal adequate funds to carry out their obligations under the Congested Districts (Scotland) Act, 1897, and The Small Landholders (Scotland) Act, 1911, towards smallholders in the event of the failure of the harvest; and whether fresh consideration will be given by the Board of Agriculture to schemes for the construction of roads which are much needed by the agricultural communities in Caithness and Sutherland, and would go far towards relief of the distress and unemployment which a bad harvest would cause?
§ The SOLICITOR-GENERAL for SCOTLANDI am aware that the weather so far has not been favourable to agricultural crops in the crofting counties and other parts of Scotland. I am informed, however, that at the present time there is no justification for assuming that the harvest will be a failure in the crofting counties. As regards the second part of the question, I would remind the hon. and gallant Member that the Board of Agriculture's Grants under the Acts of 1897 and 1911 are not made, generally speaking, for the relief of distress due to bad harvests or other temporary causes. No part of the Board's funds has, therefore, been specifically earmarked for the relief of distress in the contingency mentioned. For the purpose of assisting agriculture, the Board have power under the Acts of 1897 and 1911 to make grants towards the cost of constructing roads, and in the present year they have offered to the County Council of Caithness the sum of £4,520 in aid of the construction of seven roads. This offer has been accepted. For the reasons which I have indicated, the last part of the question is a hypothetical one, and I can give no undertaking that the counties mentioned will receive special consideration in the present year in the absence of very exceptional circumstances.
§ Sir A. SINCLAIRIs the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that it was never suggested that those funds should be used for the relief of distress, but that 209 they should be used to provide seed, according to the provisions of the Act mentioned, if the harvest should fail?
§ The SOLICITOR-GENERAL for SCOTLANDThe harvest, as I pointed out to my hon. Friend, has not yet proved a failure, and it is not anticipated that it will.
§ 31. Sir ROBERT HAMILTONasked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health, whether he is aware that the crofters on the Symbister and Busta estates in Shetland have, owing to the bondholders on the estates foreclosing, been warned by an Edinburgh company holding the bonds that unless they purchase their crofts at 25 years' purchase they may be evicted; whether the Secretary for Scotland will take action to assist the crofters to retain their holdings; and when legislation will be introduced to amend the existing law on the matter?
§ The SOLICITOR-GENERAL for SCOTLANDI understand that some communication has been received by crofters on these estates, but I am not aware of its terms. I would remind the hon. Member, however, that a crofter can only be removed from his holding in the event of breach of the Statutory conditions or of resumption being authorised by the Land Court for a reasonable purpose on the application of the landlord. If such an application should be made with regard to any holding by a purchaser who has no other landed estate and intends to reside personally on the holding, his proposed occupation would be deemed a reasonable purpose, and my Noble Friend would have no power to interfere or to assist the present tenant to retain his holding. It does not appear, however, that that situation has arisen, and it may not arise. My Noble Friend regrets that he cannot at present give any undertaking with regard to the introduction of legislation on this subject.
§ Sir R. HAMILTONIs the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that at the present time very serious discontent exists in Shetland over this matter, and will he represent to his Noble Friend the necessity of introducing legislation to amend the existing law at an early date? If such legislation cannot be introduced this Session, will he do so next Session?
§ 49. Sir A. SINCLAIRasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the condition of the crops in the crofting counties of Scotland, owing to the cold and wet summer, renders these counties liable to distress and unemployment in the winter; whether his attention has been drawn to the Interim Report of the Agricultural Tribunal of Investigation (Cmd. 1842), dated 29th March, 1923, Section 39, headed Relief of Rural Unemployment; and whether, in view of the importance of an extension this winter of the operations of the Forestry Commissioners in these crofting counties, he will sanction at an early date the scheme submitted to him in April last by the Forestry Commissioners?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe question of the expenditure to be incurred next winter on special unemployment works in urban and rural areas, and the proportion of this expenditure to be devoted to forestry schemes is now under consideration by a Committee of the Cabinet.
§ Sir A. SINCLAIRIs there to be no reply to the scheme submitted by the Forestry Commissioners in April last until the Cabinet Committee has reported?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSOn behalf of the Cabinet Committee I have communicated with the Chairman of the Forestry Commission.