Lieut.-Colonel A. MURRAYasked the Secretary for Scotland under what authority the proposed Scottish Council of Agriculture and agricultural executive committees are to be set up; whether the council is to be a statutory or a voluntary body; whether he is aware that under the scheme issued by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland there is no provision made that smallholders will be represented on either the electoral body or the Council of Agriculture; and whether, with a view to securing definitely adequate representation for smallholders on the central bodies, he can arrange that such provision be made in the scheme?
§ Mr. MUNROThe council and committees will in the first instance be set up as voluntary bodies, but it is hoped to give them a statutory position in the coming Bill for Land Settlement in Scotland. As regards the remainder of the question, smallholders are eligible for appointment on electoral bodies equally with larger holders, and in addition, there is specific provision that a certain proportion of the members of each committee shall be occupiers of holdings not exceeding £50 of annual value. In the case of the council, my hon. and gallant Friend will keep in view that I have to nominate twenty members, and in the exercise of this duty I shall be careful to see that small holders are adequately represented.