§ Mr. MACLEANasked the Minister of Agriculture the number of applications for small holdings not yet granted in England and Wales in 1927; and whether this is an increase over the number in 1926?
Mr. GUINNESSAccording to returns recently furnished by councils of counties and county boroughs in England and Wales, the approximate number of unsatisfied applicants for small holdings or cottage holdings on their lists at the 31st December, 1927, was 5,820, of whom about 2,520 had been approved as suitable and the remainder were awaiting further investigation. The number of applicants on councils' lists at the 15th December, 1926, the date of the passing of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1926, was approximately 5,560.
§ Sir A. SINCLAIRasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is yet in a position to state what action has been taken to obtain enlargements off the farm of Sciberscross for the applicants in the parish of Rogart, in the County of Sutherland?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI have given my approval to proposals submitted to me by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland with a view to the initiation of a scheme for the constitution of new holdings and enlargements of existing holdings from the farm referred to by the hon. and gallant Member.