§ Mr. WEIRasked the First Commissioner of Works, as representing the Secretary for Scotland, whether, seeing that it is the duty of the Board of Agriculture under the Land Settlement Act of 1919 to prepare schemes for the constitution of buildings, why the Board has not done this in the case of Stimervay or in the cases where land is being demanded in Islay; and whether it is the intention of the Government to punish those men who have taken that land?
§ Sir J. BAIRDThe Board decided not to proceed with a scheme at Stimervay because the expense would have been prohibitive relatively to any resultant benefits. Various schemes have been the subject of negotiation in Islay, and an agreement was recently concluded for the purchase of land near Port Ellen on which 10 holders will shortly be established. As regards the last part of the question, in cases where persons are in illegal occupation of the land, it rests with the landowner, and not with the Government, to take legal proceedings.