§ 21. Colonel DAY (for Mr. N. MACLEAN)asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much land in the Parish of Sleat was available for small holdings when the Board of Agriculture was formed; whether any additional land (has been obtained since; and why, If land was available, no offer of such land 2751 was made to the 32 applicants for small holdings and 68 applicants for enlargements?
§ Sir J. GILMOURNo land belonging to the Government was available for small holdings in the Parish of Sleat when the Board of Agriculture was formed, and none has since been acquired. It is not practicable to give the acreage of land belonging to other owners which was available and suitable for the constitution of small hodings at the time referred to. The requirements of this district were less urgent than those of other districts, but, as I informed the hon. Member on the 6th and 8th December, the Board of Agriculture are at present in negotiation for a scheme of settlement on a farm in the Parish of Sleat, and all the ex-service applicants in that parish have already been afforded an opportunity of applying for holdings in other parishes in Skye.
§ Colonel DAYCan the right hon. Gentleman say what is the size of the farm for which the Board are in negotiation?
§ Sir J. GILMOURNo, Sir; not without notice.