§ Sir A. SINCLAIRasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what accumulated sums of money were transferred by the Congested Districts Board to the Board of Agriculture for Scotland on the constitution of the latter; whether these sums were ear-marked for congested areas in the Highlands; whether this money has been spent in the Highlands; and, if so, what sums were allocated to and spent in each county?
§ Sir J. GILMOURAs indicated in the First Report of the Board of Agriculture for Scotland (published in 1913: Cd. 6757) in which this matter is discussed, the sums standing to the credit of the Congested Districts Board at 31st March, 1912, and transferred to the 41W Board of Agriculture for Scotland on the constitution of the latter amounted to £86,265, which sum was, however, subject to liabilities exceeding £60,000 previously incurred by the Congested Districts Board. After consultation with the Law Officers of the Crown, the funds transferred were carried to the Agriculture (Scotland) Fund in terms of Section 5 of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act, 1911, and applied in terms of Section 6 of that Act. The money was not specifically ear-marked for Congested areas in the Highlands, but the sums actually spent by the Board of Agriculture in these areas since 1st April, 1912, very greatly exceed the balance of moneys received from the Congested Districts Board.