§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether, in view of the probability that some considerable time must elapse before the Deer Forest Commission is in a position to present its full Report, he will bring his influence to bear upon the Commissioners with the object of having an Interim 1030 Report issued at once in order to facilitate early legislation on the subject of their inquiry?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANI must refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to him on the 10th ultimo:—
The Commissioners, according to their last communication to me, did not propose to submit an Interim Report. They are not yet in a position to say when they shall be able to report, but they are satisfied, and I think most justly, with the progress which they have made in an inquiry which must be thorough over a very large area of Scotland.
§ SIR G. TREVELYANThere is a Commissioner in the House who will give my hon. Friend the best information in his power. My hon. Friend will then see what portion of Scotland has already been gone over, and will be able to judge for himself how soon the Inquiry will be completed.
§ MR. MACFARLANE (Argyll)Is there to be an Interim Report of any kind?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANNo; the Commission unanimously decided that.
§ MR. A. SUTHERLAND (Sutherland)I beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, under the circumstances, an Interim Report could contain any recommendations, and whether it would be possible without recommendations to pass legislation.
§ SIR G. TREVELYANThat is the view that the Commission have represented to me, and I think it is a view deserving the greatest consideration.
§ DR. MACGREGORIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that at the rate of progress hitherto made it will be several years before the inquiry is completed, and whether, if that be so, urgent legislation upon so important a matter is to be postponed?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANNo, Sir. What I am aware of is quite the contrary. The hon. Member is mistaken.