§ Mr. H. STEWARTasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any recent estimate has been made of the amount of good arable or pasture land in Scotland urgently in need of drainage; how many applicants for drainage grants have received assistance in the present year; and whether the Government propose taking any more active steps to deal with the increasing loss of good land on account of lack of proper drainage?
§ Sir G. COLLINSThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. At 31st May, 1934, 351 applicants had been offered drainage grants under the scheme authorised for the current financial year. The Government are fully aware of the importance of preventing, so far as practicable, the deterioration of good agricultural land through lack of proper drainage; but the assistance available for this purpose must necessarily be limited by financial considerations.