§ Mr. MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the delay in fulfilling the promises of the Government to provide small holdings to ex-service men and others in the Highlands of Scotland is driving many of those men to take possession of land; that, when in possession, they are subjected to summonses for breach of interdict; whether a number of men have been placed in small holdings after they have taken such action; and whether he will cause steps to be taken which will expedite the formation of small holdings, and give those people the benefits to which they are entitled under the Small Landholders Act?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI am not aware that there have been any recent instances of illegal seizure of land apart from the case referred to in my reply to the hon. Member's question yesterday. Any persons who take part in such acts render themselves as a master of course liable to legal proceedings. I understand that in some cases in the past men who had taken part in illegal seizures subsequently obtained holdings, but in the statement to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member's question yesterday I made I, clear that I would not entertain the claims of any men who raid. With regard to the last part of the question I am not to be taken as agreeing with the implication that there has been undue delay. As I have previously stated in the House the process of land settlement will proceed in suitable areas as the available means permit.