HC Deb 27 March 1911 vol 23 cc1112-4W
Mr. MacVEAGH

asked the Lord Advocate whether he can state the total number of occupiers of farms in Scotland whose holdings are rented at £1 or under, the total rented between £1 and £4, and the total rented between £4 and £10?

Mr. URE

The latest figures available are those given in the House of Commons Returns of Occupiers (whether owners or tenants) of Farms in Scotland, No. 127 of 1907 (Part I., Counties, page 8), which gives the total number of occupiers in Scotland whose holdings are rented at £1 and under as 3,863, between £1 and £4 as 19,479, and between £4 and £10 as 17,500.

Mr. MacVEAGH

asked the Lord Advocate whether he can state approximately the number of holdings in the districts within the jurisdiction of the Congested Districts Board, the average rental, and the number of holdings enlarged or new holdings created since the establishment of the Board?

Mr. URE

A list of the parishes and parts of parishes, more than sixty in number, in the crofting counties of Scotland, which have been determined by the Congested Districts Board to be congested districts within the meaning of the Act, is set out in Appendix II. of the last (12th) Report of the Congested Districts Board. Particulars of holdings in each of these parishes, as well as in each of the other parishes in Scotland, are set out in the House of Commons Return of Occupiers of Farms (Scotland), No. 127 I. (Part II., Parishes) of 1907. As, however, this Return does not distinguish between owners and tenants, and, though it classifies holdings according to their gross rentals on the valuation roll, includes large properties as well as small holdings, any working out of averages through the whole would probably not secure the information desired by the hon. Member. So far as the work of the Congested Districts Board is concerned there have been, since the establishment of the Board, enlargements of holdings in the case of 1,062 crofters, and 611 new holdings have been created; and there have also been other enlargements made and new holdings created independently of the Board.