Sir L. HARMSWORTHasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has recently received a petition from nearly 100 of the residents of Portsharra and Melvich, of whom 47 are soldiers or sailors, for small holdings upon the farms of Kirktown and Bighouse, in the parish of Farr, Sutherland; whether he is aware that these farms, being held on yearly tenancy, are immediately available for this purpose; and what steps he is taking, or proposes to take, to comply with the request of the applicant?
§ Mr. MUNROThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Kirkton Farm is held by three joint tenants on tacit relocation under a lease which expired at Whit-Sunday, 1915. Bighouse Farm was sub-divided by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland at Whit-Sunday, 1915, into three new holdings and two enlargements, and is not available in terms of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act for further settlement. The Board are in communication with the owner of Kirkton with a view to endeavouring to adjust a scheme of land settlement.