HC Deb 25 November 1952 vol 508 cc238-9
19. Mr. M. MacMillan

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the repeated requests to him by the crofters of Balmartin, in the Isle of North Uist, to assist them in having their holdings enlarged from the neighbouring estate land of Balelone; why he has rejected their past requests; and what action he is now taking to help these crofters to secure adequate land for a reasonable livelihood.

Mr. Snadden

The request of the Balmartin holders raises difficult questions of agricultural and social policy which are closely related to the remit of the Crofting Commission, and my right hon. Friend proposes to defer a final decision until the Commission's Report is available.

Mr. MacMillan

That Report may not be available for a long time. Would the Secretary of State—I am sorry that he is not here—in fairness to any possible buyer of this estate in North Uist, warn him that he will not have peace or comfort in possession of it so long as the Hebridians are suffering from land hunger? [Interruption.] I beg your pardon, Mr. Speaker, but this is an extremely important question. I wish that the right hon. Gentleman opposite would keep his voice on a level with his intelligence—as low as possible.

Is the Joint Under-Secretary aware that these men have given notice that they intend to raid this estate on Friday of this week? Is he also aware that they fully mean all they say? They have tried every constitutional method and have been driven to this—[Interruption.] Since I have your permission to finish the question, Mr. Speaker, in spite of the hon. Member for Croydon, East (Sir H. Williams)—

Captain Pilkington

On a point of order. Ought not the hon. Member to follow your request as to the length of supplementary questions?

Mr. Speaker

I am always full of hope that the supplementary question is coming to an end at the next moment. I do not like to prolong it by intervening too often.

Mr. MacMillan

Might I say, in finishing my supplementary question, that these men were also full of hope and they have abandoned hope because the Secretary of State has forced them to this pass? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that these men have given up the hope of any satisfaction of their just claims? They have tried every constitutional approach and have been refused a perfectly just and natural claim.

Mr. Snadden

It is impossible to state the date when the Commission will report. We know that they are reaching the end of their job of taking evidence. In reply to the second part of the question, I would point out that this farm is a large and productive unit which provides employment locally. My right hon. Friend is in some doubt as to whether the division of this farm into smaller units among the various people who wish to share the land would necessarily be in the best interests of the community. He prefers to await the Report of the Commission, who took a special look at this case when touring the Island.

Mr. MacMillan

I wish to give notice that, in view of the failure of the Secretary of State to protect the natural rights of the crofters of the Hebrides, I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment and by every other method, constitutional or otherwise.