§ Mr. ERNEST JARDINEasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether 485W he is aware of the proposal on the part of the owner to sell a large number of farms and small holdings situated at Manley, Kingswood, and Mouldsworth, in Cheshire, and of the fact that the tenants are unable, under the present circumstances, to purchase; and whether the Government intend this Session to carry out the recommendations of the Departmental Committee appointed last year to inquire into the position of farmers on the breaking up of estates, which Committee, among other things, reported in favour of a scheme for assisting tenants of agricultural land to become the occupying owners and cultivators of the same?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am aware that the estate to which the hon. Member refers was put up for sale by auction last month. The Cheshire County Council, with the approval of the Board, endeavoured to purchase the fifteen small holdings on the estate with a view to retain the present tenants thereon, but they succeeded in purchasing only two. A Bill has been introduced, and is now awaiting its Third Beading in another place, which will give effect to some of the recommendatons of the Committee to which the hon. Member refers, but it is not proposed to carry into effect the particular scheme to which allusion is made in the latter part of the question.
§ Sir JOHN DEWARasked the Secretary for Scotland if he is aware that dissatisfaction is being expressed in South Uist at the delay in dealing with the numerous applications for small holdings in that district; and if he can hold out any hope that proceedings will be expedited so that an early settlement of this pressing question may be reached?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Boss-shire on Monday.