§ 14. Sir IAN MACPHERSONasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state, with regard to the petition and memorandum on behalf of 700 smallholders in the counties of Sutherland, Ross and Cromarty, Inverness, and Argyll, praying that immediate and earnest consideration be given to the grievous plight of the smallholding community in the Highland areas, what steps have been taken to review the onerous obligations which circumstances compelled them to enter into with the Department of Agriculture?
§ 15. Sir MURDOCH MACDONALDasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has given further consideration to the representations which have been made to him in regard to the condition of the smallholding community in the Highland counties of Scotland; and, in view of the urgency of the situation, whether he will take an early opportunity to announce his proposals in the matter?
§ Sir G. COLLINSThe petition and memorandum referred to only reached the Department on the 22nd June. I will give careful and sympathetic consideration to the statements in the memorandum, and pending such consideration I am not in a position to say what action may be called for. As my hon. Friends are aware, the memorandum is a somewhat long document and deals with a large number of cases which will require a little time for examination.
§ Sir IAN MACPHERSONIf I raise this point on Friday on the Estimates, will the right hon. Gentleman be in a position to make any statement?
§ Sir G. COLLINSI will answer as fully as I can.