asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in view of the explanation given in the Report of the Scottish Board of Agriculture for the failure of a demand for small holdings in the Lowland counties of Scotland, namely, the ignorance of the benefits conferred by the Act, he will say what steps are to be taken to popularise the Act in the Lowland counties; and whether other reasons for its failure have been brought to his notice?

Various reasons for the limited demand for small holdings in the Lowlands have been suggested, but it is believed that the principal reason is that stated in the first Report of the Board of Agriculture for Scotland, page xiv. The Board has issued various explanatory leaflets, and the Commissioner and Sub-Commissioners have paid visits to the Lowland counties.

asked the Secretary for Scotland how many new small holdings have been created in the crofting counties and in the Lowland counties of Scotland, respectively, since the coming into force of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act?

An exact reply cannot be given to my hon. Friend's question, because most of the schemes in respect of which the Board of Agriculture have applied to the Land Court are still sub judice. The hon. Member is referred to the statement given on pp. xiv. and xv. of the first Report of the Board of Agriculture for Scotland issued recently.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in view of the fact that the Scottish Board of Agriculture report that the demand for land settlement is far in excess of the present resources of the fund at the disposal of the Board, it is proposed to take steps to augment the fund to an extent which will admit of the objects of the Act being attained?

I am not yet in a position to make a statement on the subject.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what proportion of the annual fund of £206,000 which is at the disposal of the Scottish Board of Agriculture was spent last year in investigating the claims and circumstances of the applicants?

The work of investigating the claims of applicants is done chiefly by the three Sub-Commissioners for small holdings, who are not paid out of the fund, but whose salaries are borne on the Board's Parliamentary Vote.

asked the Secretary for Scotland the ratio of suitable to unsuitable applicants for land among the 3,370 persons who applied for holdings under the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act; and what were the main grounds of unsuitability?

I regret that I am unable to answer the question in the form suggested by my hon. Friend. All the circumstances of each case have to be taken into careful consideration.