§ 73. Mr. R. MURRAYasked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether he is aware that land at Georgetown, Renfrewshire, belonging to the nation and extending to about 600 acres, has been or is about to be sold for use as a game preserve; and that there have been many applications by ex-service men for small holdings on this estate; and, in view of the suitability of this land, with its Government-owned houses, for small holdings, whether he can see his way to having it utilised in this manner rather than for the preservation of game?
§ ernment scheme were required to send in their applications before the 1st December, 1920. Separate figures are, therefore, given below as regards applications received before and after that date.
§ refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on this subject to the hon. and gallant Member for Kirkcaldy Burghs (Sir R. Hutchison) on the 5th June. I understand that as part of the settlement of claims for reinstatement the Disposal and Liquidation Commission have transferred an area acquired by the Commission to the owner of another part of the land. I have no knowledge of the use to which it will be put. The demand by ex-service men for holdings on this land is not large, and, as I stated in my previous reply, the area does not offer good prospects for a small holdings scheme, as the land is largely occupied by buildings and foundations. Any existing application to the Board of Agriculture by ex-service men can be more suitably considered in connection with other schemes in the same district.
§ Mr. MURRAYHave not hundreds of acres being cut off for foundations and buildings equally suitable for small holdings, and is there not an urgent demand on the part of ex-service men for that portion of the ground?
§ Captain ELLIOTI have replied to that question in the answer I have just given. There are, of course, portions that are not so cut up as other portions, but you must read the area as a whole.
§ Mr. MURRAYCould not portions be so utilised?