§ 53. Mr. JOHNSTONasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the urgency of providing land for small holdings in South Harris; whether he is aware that ex-service men have had their ducks and goats poinded for straying upon the large farms and estates; and if he will say 481 what steps he is taking to make land available for cultivation by the smallholders in South Harris?
§ The LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. Watson)My right hon. Friend has no information as to the alleged poinding of straying stocks. As regards the remainder of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave yesterday to his question on the subject of land settlement in Harris, where, I would remind him, land suitable for sub-division and close settlement is very limited, a fact which led the Board of Agriculture for Scotland three years ago to migrate a number of Harris men to holdings at Talisker, in Skye.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONIs it the case that 400 men in Harris are now out of work and have no insurance benefit and no opportunities or means whatever of making a livelihood for themselves unless the Board of Agriculture provide land?
§ The LORD ADVOCATEThe hon. Member will perhaps put down that question.