§ 84. Mr. JOHNSTONasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the decreases in the population of Sutherlandshire during the last four census periods; and whether he will in future refuse to sanction the disposal of publicly-owned farms to pluralist farmers?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe decreases shown at the last four censuses were: 1,474, 456, 1,261, and 2,377, respectively. The proposal in the second part of the question would needlessly limit opportunities for disposing of any property which it might be expedient, in the public interest, to offer for sale, and I do not propose to adopt it.