HC Deb 02 July 1928 vol 219 cc973-4
44. Mr. MACLEAN

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the Scottish Office cannot give the number of applications for small holdings in Harris and Lewis in 1912, the number met, and the number still awaiting settlement, when Appendix No. 3 to the Sixteenth Report of the Board of Agriculture for Scotland contains even more statistical information relating to Skye, North Uist, and Barra?

The SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Sir John Gilmour)

The number of applications received in a particular year from the districts referred to can be readily obtained, but to trace their subsequent history over a period of years would involve a considerable expenditure of time and labour which I do not think would be justifiable. As regards the reference to Appendix 3 of the Board's Report, this contains statistical information which is readily available relating to properties acquired by the Board for land settlement purposes

Mr. MACLEAN

Is it not quite an easy matter for the Secretary of State to find out whether an individual who has registered an application for a smallholding in 1912, say, has subsequently received that holding? That is the purport of the question. Cannot that be done quite easily? It does not require much statistical search.

Sir J. GILMOUR

The fact is that it can be readily ascertained when the application is made, but, if a considerable period of years elapses, to find out what happened to him in those subsequent years entails a great deal of labour which I do not think is justified by any result.

Mr. MACLEAN

Are we to understand that in some way or other the records are placed in an inaccessible position in the Scottish Office, that the officials there cannot obtain access to them? When a name is once registered by an applicant for a smallholding is it the case that that name disappears and cannot be found during a subsequent period?

Sir J. GILMOUR

No, Sir. The records of applications are kept by the Board of Agriculture. It would be a great labour and expense to trace what happened to every individual who may have applied in one year or another. He may haw, gone out of the town or may have disappeared in the interval.

Several HON. MEMBERS rose

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Mr. SPEAKER

We have dealt with only 44 questions and there are only 10 minutes remaining to finish all questions.