Sir L. HARMSWORTHasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that a number of ex-soldiers have applied for holdings on the farm of Dorrery, Caithness; that this farm is part of Crown lands, and consequently under the control of a Government Department; and what steps he proposes to take to compel this Department to make their actions coincide in these matters with his repeatedly expressed determination to provide all possible means for ex-service men to secure holdings?
Sir A. BOSCAWENOne ex-soldier has applied to the Commissioner of Woods for a holding on the farm of' Dorrery, Caithness, and it is understood that, in addition, three applications have been made to the Board of Agriculture for Scotland. The farm is purely a sheep 2037W farm, and comprises 786 acres of enclosed land and 3,600 acres of hill ground. The acreage available for profitable cultivation is small, and its conversion into small holdings would greatly depreciate the value of the remainder of the farm. By arrangement with the Board of Agriculture for Scotland, the following areas on Crown estates in the neighbourhood of Dorrery either have been or will be converted into small holdings, namely:—
Scotscalder Estate. Acres. South Calder Farm … … 348 Dounreay Estate. Lybster Farm … … 604 Skaill Farm … … 1,008 Upper Dounreay … … 1,080 Stemster Estate … … 675