§ 11.35 a.m.
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their attention has been drawn to a Press notice issued on 25th March 1958, by the Crofters' Commission, giving the Commission's views on a recent public inquiry, held under section 19 of the Crofters (Scotland) Act, into the Commission's draft scheme for the reorganisation of the township of Balmartin, North Uist; whether Her Majesty's Government are aware that in this Press notice the Crofters' Commission "deplore the cost in time, work and money involved in having to fight the case", although the Secretary of State, as a result of this inquiry, made substantial changes in the Commission's draft scheme; and whether Her Majesty's Government will represent to the Crofters' Commission that it is improper, and likely to cause misunderstanding, that the Commission should publicly deprecate the use of machinery set up by Act of Parliament for the purpose of enabling any persons, who may feel that they would be unfairly treated under any proposals of the Commission, to have their case heard.]
238§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, SCOTTISH OFFICE (LORD STRATHCLYDE)My Lords, the answer to the first part of the noble Earl's Question is "Yes". After he learnt of the terms of the statement, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State discussed the matter with the Chairman of the Crofters' Commission, who has assured him that the Commission will take care to avoid using words which may give rise to misunderstanding or appear to criticise persons who have exercised their statutory rights.
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that Answer.