HC Deb 05 February 1918 vol 101 cc2151-2W
Mr. MURRAI MACDONALD

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that the Scottish Board of Agriculture intimated early last year that it was prepared to make arrangements with landowners for having suitable parts of deer forests and grouse moors made available for the grazing of stock; that thereupon an application was received by the Board from nineteen crofters in Arnisdale, Glenelg, applying for grazing for thirty-six cattle and 1,180 sheep on a part of Eileanreach Deer Forest, and that the Board at first encouraged these applicants to believe that the grazing would be rented to them; and, seeing that after six months they were informed that the Board regretted that it could not proceed with the application under the Defence of the Realm Regulations, will he state whether in the meantime the part of the forest applied for was let to a neighbouring farmer who has put on it a stock of only 200 sheep?

Mr. MUNRO

I am causing this case to be further investigated on the spot, with a view to obtaining a full report upon the facts; and when this has been obtained I will communicate with my right hon. Friend.