§ Mr. MACLEANasked the Secretary for Scotland what measures he proposes to take to ameliorate the conditions of the people in the island of Lewis?
Mr. ADAMSONThe exceptional distress in Lewis this winter caused by the failure of crops is being relieved by means of road works, towards which large grants have been made, and by the exercise of the powers of the parish councils, who are being assisted with loans authorised by me on the recommendation of the Goschen Committee. In order to assist the people to grow crops this year the Government are making arrangements to supply at a reduced cost seed oats and seed potatoes for use this spring. In addition to taking these measures for dealing with the exceptional conditions at present prevailing, I am examining carefully, as I recently stated in the House, the more general question of the permanent conditions which obtain in the Highlands and Islands.