§ 32. Major Sir ARCHIBALD SINCLAIRasked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what grounds the decision to sell the estate of Erriboll has been reached; what number of ex-service men and civilian applicants in the county of Sutherland are still without the holdings or enlargements for which they have applied; and how the proceeds of the proposed sale will be utilised?
§ Sir J. GILMOURAs stated in the Report of the Board of Agriculture for Scotland for the year ending the 31st December, 1924, no applicants were found ready, in spite of the widest publicity and advertisement, to take holdings under the Board's scheme for Erriboll Estate, owing to lack of sufficient capital to enable them to make the initial cash payment of 25 per cent. of the price of the sheep stock on the ground. The outstanding applications from Sutherlandshire for new 1218 holdings and enlargements number 185 and 11 respectively from ex-service men and 119 and 770 respectively from other applicants. The method of utilising the proceeds of the sale has not yet been determined.
§ Sir A. SINCLAIRIs it not a fact that these men were required to advance capital of no less than £400 or £500 each before they were allowed to take part in the scheme, and seeing that the farm is now considered unfitted for the purpose of land settlement, and that 1,000 applicants are still unsatisfied, will not the right hon. Gentleman at least give an assurance that the proceeds of the sale will be devoted to settling these unsatisfied applicants?
§ Sir J. GILMOURIt is clear that this property is unsuited, as I think the hon. Gentleman admits, and that is the reason why I have given directions for the sale. As to which particular scheme we may use the money for—which will be used for land settlement—I cannot commit myself.
§ Sir A. SINCLAIRSeeing that it was bought for the benefit of the applicants in Sutherland, will not the proceeds of the sale of the unsatisfactory scheme be used for these people?
§ Sir J. GILMOURAll I can say is that, of course, every consideration will be given to the settlement.