§ Mr. MACQUISTENasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether he is aware that his Ministry is at present farming a large tract of excellent land in the vicinity of Gretna factory, and farming it badly; whether it is the case that it is proposed to evict highly-skilled tenants of farms in the Gretna area for the purpose of settling discharged and disabled soldiers thereon as small holders; 1344W and whether he will take steps to see that no such evictions take place, but that the land at present unsatisfactorily cultivated by his Ministry be first devoted to the needs of the soldiers?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYLand in the vicinity of Gretna, a large proportion of which is in the factory fence, is being farmed by the Ministry of Munitions. There is no ground for suggesting that it is being farmed badly. It is not possible to say what proportion of this land will be available for letting until the future of the factory has been decided. The Ministry of Munitions have been approached by the Scottish Board of Agriculture, who are desirous of obtaining land in the area for the purpose of settling discharged and disabled soldiers thereon as small holders. The Ministry have offered land which is held by tenant farmers on agreements which vary from one month to two years.