§ 20. Lord SCONEasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of cases, in Scotland and Perthshire, respectively, in -which cows, other live stock, agricultural implements, or furniture have been poinded at the instance of the Scottish Milk Marketing Board, together with the total number of cows poinded, and the average value placed upon each cow?
§ Sir G. COLLINSI am informed that the total number of cases in which poindings have been carried out is 64, including 22 in the county of Perth. The total number of cows poinded is 320, including 67 in the county of Perth. The average value placed upon the cows by the sheriff's officers is £10 2s. 3d. and the average for the county of Perth is £10 7s. 8d. I may add that in a great many of the cases where poindings have been executed the producers concerned have now come to an arrangement for payment of their debts by reasonable instalments, and it is hoped that similar arrangements will be made in the other cases. In only one case so far has a sale of poinded effects been instructed.
§ Lord SCONECan the right hon. Gentleman inform the House whether the Milk Marketing Board is willing to accept a reasonable system of instalment payments for the overdue sums?
§ Sir G. COLLINSI will communicate the request of my Noble Friend to the Marketing Board, but I am sure that in all things they are willing to consider the interests of the people concerned.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that the methods of the Milk Marketing Board appear to be much less honest than were those of Rob Roy in the 17th century?
§ 21. Lord SCONEasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that in many recent cases when cows have been poinded at the instance of the Scottish Milk Marketing Board, such cows have been valued at only a fraction of their real worth; and if he will request the board to repay to the owners any excess over the value put on them at poinding, which may be obtained when the cows are subsequently sold?
§ Sir G. COLLINSI cannot express an opinion on the point raised in the first part of the question, but I have received an assurance from the board that in the event of their obtaining from the sale of poinded cows an amount in excess of the value put upon them on poinding, the surplus after allowing for expenses will be repaid to the producers concerned.