§ Mr. W. YOUNGasked the Secretary for Scotland whether Sir A. Rose has been appointed Director of Land Settlement for Scotland; whether he is a paint manufacturer and merchant in Leith; whether, prior to the War, he had no practical connection with or experience of agriculture; whether, although he has now taken a large sheep farm, he has placed it in the control of an expert manager; whether definite charges of incompetence have been made against Sir A. Rose; and whether he will immediately order an inquiry into Sir A. Rose's qualifications for this appointment and into the charges which have been made against him when he acted as chairman of the Potato Allocation Authority?
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§ Mr. MUNROThe answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards Sir Arthur Rose's precise pre-War acquaintance with agriculture, I am not in a position to express an opinion, but I am aware that he manages his farm himself and not through an expert manager. So far from any suggestion of incompetency being made against Sir Arthur Rose as Food Commissioner for Scotland, it was his pre-eminent success as an administrator in that capacity which, as I have already stated in this House, induced me to offer him the temporary appointment referred to. Sir Arthur Rose has a large staff of competent agricultural advisers at the Scottish Board of Agriculture, but I must point out to my hon. Friend that the problems of land settlement are not solely agricultural problems.