Western Island (Population)

HC Deb 20 December 1960 vol 632 c138W

Mr. Malcolm MacMillan

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) the population of Eriskay in 1930, 1939, 1951, and 1959, respectively;

(2) the population in the island of Scarp, Harris, in 1930, 1939, 1951, and 1959 respectively;

(3) the population of the Isle of Scalpay, Harris, in 1930, 1939, 1951, and 1959, respectively;

(4) the population in the Isle of Bernera, Lewis, in 1930, 1939, 1951, and 1959, respectively;

(5) the population of the Isle of Berneray, Harris, in 1930, 1939, 1951, and 1959 respectively;

(6) the population of the Isle of Vatersay in the years 1930, 1939, 1951, and 1959, respectively;

(7) the average loss of population, stated as a percentage, of the islands of Eriskay, Scarp, Scalpay, Bernera (Lewis), Vatersay, and Berneray (Harris), between 1930 and 1959, and the total loss for all those islands in the same period.

Mr. Maclay

Figures are available only for the census years 1931 and 1951, and are as follows:

Island	Population
1931	1951
Eriskay	420	330
Scarp (Harris)	95	74
Scalpay (Harris)	636	541
Bernera (Lewis)	514	384
Berneray (Harris)	331	246
Vatersay	240	151

The population of the six islands was 2,236 in 1931, and fell by 510 to 1,726 in 1951. The average loss of population over this period was 23 per cent.