HC Deb 17 March 1925 vol 181 c2054
37. Sir A. SINCLAIR

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in view of the amount of under-employment and consequent distress in congested districts of the Highlands of Scotland, he will in future consider crofters paying less than £10 of rent as eligible for employment on unemployment relief works, and especially upon land drainage schemes?

Sir J. GILMOUR

I am not prepared to adopt the principle suggested by the hon. and gallant Member with regard to eligibility for employment on land drainage schemes. If, however, a crofter was formally habitually and necessarily engaged on wage-earning work, which at present through economic reasons is not available, and is accepted as an unemployed man at the local Employment. Exchange, the Board of Agriculture for Scotland would regard him as eligible for employment upon land drainage schemes.