§ 25. Mr. Malcolm MacMillanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the difficulties of the smallholders of Eoligarry, Isle of Barra, owing to the lack of a road or transport facilities of any kind; and what proposals he has to remedy this state of affairs in the near future?
§ Mr. ElliotA grant of 75 per cent. of the cost of making a road at Eoligarry was offered to the county council of Inverness-shire by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland in 1935. I understand that the council subsequently decided not to proceed with the scheme as they were unable to obtain a local contribution towards their share of the expenditure. The available grant was, on the council's application, applied towards the cost of executing works elsewhere in the county, where the same difficulty did not arise.
§ Mr. MacMillanWhile aware of the difficulties in other parts of the county, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman does he not agree that, having settled people in this district, the least the Government can do is to provide decent roads for them?
§ Mr. ElliotSurely it is desirable to operate through the local authorities.
§ Mr. MacMillanWhen the local authority does not function, as in this case, will the right hon. Gentleman not do something to make them function; and is he aware that this road looks like a battlefield, and will be one unless something is done about it?