§ 40. Sir A. SINCLAIRasked the Secretary of State for Scotland why, seeing that grants amounting to £38,573 were applied for under the Board of Agriculture drainage scheme for the year 1926–27, only £13,551 was granted, whereas funds amounting in the financial year 1926–27 to pound20,625 were stated to be available for this purpose?
§ Major ELLIOTUnder the 1926–27 scheme, £20,625, the amount available for the purpose, was offered in grants. At the end of the financial year claims to the value of £13,551 had been paid and a number of claims under the scheme were still outstanding. I may explain that many farmers curtailed, or even abandoned their proposals, and, in spite of the Board's request, failed to intimate the fact in time to allow of the grants being offered elsewhere.
§ 41. Sir A. SINCLAIRasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can give any figures similar to those which appeared in the recent Report on Agricultural Output in England and Wales, showing the area of land requiring draining in Scotland; whether he proposes to appoint a committee or commission to inquire into the question on the lines of the recently appointed Royal Commission on Land Drainage in England and Wales: 2303 and whether he proposes to introduce legislation, as recommended by the Scottish Conference on Agricultural Policy, 1925, on the lines of the Land Drainage Acts, enabling drainage areas to be delineated and drainage boards to be constituted?
§ Major ELLIOTThe answer to the first two parts of the question is in the negative. The Secretary of State has under consideration at present proposals for legislation dealing with land drainage in Scotland.
§ Sir A. SINCLAIRWhy cannot we have in Scotland an inquiry into this very important question of land drainage, which the Government's own Committee said was the most important thing to help Scottish agriculture?
§ Major ELLIOTAs I say, my right hon. Friend has, at this moment, under his consideration proposals for legislation dealing with Scotland.