§ Mr. MACQUISTENasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he will inquire into the oases of three smallholders at Cladville, Portnahaven, Islay, who were placed in their holdings at the time of high prices and granted bonds to the Board of Agriculture for their buildings, but are unable to implement their bonds owing to the slump and bad harvest, and are now threatened with legal proceedings by the Board; and whether he will cause these cases to be reconsidered, and the smallholders given the same terms as those who entered their holdings at a later date when the depression had manifested itself and whose bonds were granted on easier terms?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI have made inquiry with regard to the three smallholders at Cladville, Islay, who are referred to in the question. The settlement at Cladville was effected at Whitsunday, 1916, and the buildings were transferred to the holders at pre-War valuation. The holders' continued failure to meet their obligations cannot, therefore, be attributed to entry to holdings at a time of high prices, and the Board cannot accept the view that it is due to the slump and bad harvest. In the circumstances I am not prepared to accede to the proposal made in the latter part of my hon. and learned Friend's question.