§ 66. Mr. MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of applications for holdings or enlargements to holdings in the parish of Sleat which have been received by the Board of Agriculture since its formation; and how many have been granted?
§ Sir J. GILMOURSince its formation the Board of Agriculture for Scotland has received 32 applications for new holdings, four of which have since been withdrawn, and 68 applications for enlargements in the Parish of Sleat. No settlements have been effected in that parish. All the ex-service applicants in the Parish of Sleat received particulars of new holdings available in other parishes in Skye in skye in 1924. and 1925 but none of them made application to be settled on those holdings.
§ Mr. MACLEANCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us why it is impossible for him to allow these small holdings which are applied for to be provided in this particular parish and why it is that people are recommended to go outside the parish in which they are living?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI cannot accept any idea that they should not go outside the immediate parish in which they are living under the Land Settlement schemes.
§ Mr. MACLEANIs it not the case that there is ample land in the parish to provide them with small holdings?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI have already told the hon. Member in answer to another question that we are negotiating for land in this parish, but I must again repeat that I m not going to be tied down to provide holdings for men in their own particular parish.
§ Mr. MACLEANis it not the case that no applicant has been provided with a small holding in the parish in which he resides, and in that case surely they have a grievance against the Department when they are asked to apply for small holdings outside their parish.