§ 28. Lord SCONEasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to convert the farm of Harperland, Ayrshire, into smallholdings, for which purpose it was taken over by the Department of Agriculture in 1928?
§ Sir G. COLLINSOwing to litigation regarding the availability of the water supply proposed to be utilised by the Department in connection with the Harperland scheme, it has not yet been found practicable to sub-divide the farm. It is hoped that an extension of the public supply mains will enable the scheme to be proceeded with during 1933.
§ Lord SCONEIs my right hon. Friend aware that while the Department of Agriculture has been administering this farm it has allowed noxious weeds to propagate in a way which would render an ordinary occupier liable to prosecution?
§ Sir G. COLLINSI was unaware of that point, but as my noble Friend has called attention to it I will look into it.
§ 29. Lord SCONEasked the Secretary of State for Scotland to state the profit or loss made by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland upon the farm of Harperland, Ayshire, in each year since it was taken over by the Department in 1928?
§ Sir G. COLLINSThe farm of Harper-land has since the term of Martinmas, 1928, been worked by the former tenant of the farm as sub-tenant of the Department of Agriculture. In order to facilitate sub-division of the farm into new holdings in accordance with the Department's scheme, the cropping of the farm has been restricted each year. Since entry was taken by the Department at Martinmas, 1928, payments have exceeded receipts as follows:—Year 1928–29. £151 14s. 4d.; 1929–30, £118 14s. 10d.; 807 1930–31, 183 15s. 7d.; the estimated excess in the year 1931–32 is £135 approximately.