28.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the successful regeneration by crofters in the Western Isles of extensive areas of moorland; whether he intends to assist further the reseeding schemes; and what grant-aid he is making available for the essential third-year phase of maintenance to prevent the reseeded land reverting to bog.
Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend has been greatly impressed by the considerable regeneration of common grazings and other croft land in Lewis, and elsewhere in the highlands and islands. Further proposals of this kind will be sympathetically considered by the Crofters' Commission. The assistance given for such schemes is directed towards the initial improvement, and not to subsequent maintenance of the improvement, and my right hon. Friend considers that the present arrangements adequately serve this purpose.
While we all endorse the compliments to the crofters concerned, who by their own hard labour and a good deal of their own money have regenerated many thousands of acres of what formerly was bog land and turned it into excellent pasture and increased the number and improved the quality of livestock, may I ask why the Government have now abandoned what is regarded as the essential third-year consolidation phase when basic slag must be applied to the ground if we are to hold progress made in the reseeding programme? Let us not abandon the whole thing for a miserable economy for which the crofters will have to pay out of their own pockets.
There is no question of abandonment. I think that the hon. Member does less than justice to these crofters, by whose enterprise this work has been done. I think it will be carried on. Maintenance is not only a question of the third-year maintenance but is required in the fourth year, the fifth year and so on.
Will my hon. Friend see that these schemes are expanded and that the good work that has been done is not lost, because it is important to maintain the quality of the land which has been reclaimed?
Every encouragement is being given to these schemes.
The hon. Gentleman said that maintenance and consolidation in the fourth year and onwards is essential. Surely it is even more essential in the third year? Is it not a fact that crofters will have to find £500 or £600 for each 200 acres in addition to what they have contributed by their labour and their own money? Does not he think that unfair?
Yes, but it should be borne in mind that these grants are running up to £14 an acre for the initial improvement.