Mr. Davidsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recommendations he has received from the Sutherland War Agricultural Executive regarding drainage improvements; and how many acres of land, hitherto uncultivated, are now being used for agricultural purposes on this committee's recommendation?
§ Mr. ColvilleI have not so far received any recommendation from the Agricultural Executive Committee for Sutherland on the subject of drainage improvements, but a number of applications for grants for drainage in the county have been approved by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland in recent months, and others are being investigated. As regards the second part of the Question, farmers in Sutherland have notified their intention to plough 1,244 acres of old grassland under the Ploughing Subsidy Scheme, but the actual increase in tillage in 1940 is expected to be in excess of this.