§ DR. MACGREGOR (Inverness-shire)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland what progress has so far been made by the Deer Forest Commission; how many Members of the Commission have taken part in the inquiry during the last two months; if fewer than the full number, what is the reason for this; and, when is the Report likely to be ready for the consideration of Parliament?
§ MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)At the same time, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is true that the Deer Forest Commission has made arrangements to terminate its sittings for this year at an early date; why the Commission have so long delayed their inquiry into the area of deer forests and sheep runs in Ross-shire, the county containing the largest deer forest area in the Kingdom; whether it is now intended to give Ross-shire representation on the Commission; whether he can see his way to add more representatives of the tenants to the Commission; and whether, on the termination of this year's inquiry, a Report of the work of the Commission will be laid upon the Table of the House?
§ THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Sir G. TREVELYAN,) Glasgow, BridgetonIt is the fact that the Highlands and Islands Commission have concluded their sittings for the year. The period of the year during which their outdoor work can be done is at an end, and they have, at a great cost of labour to themselves, utilised the season which was favourable to their operations. The Commission have not delayed their inquiry into the area of the deer forests and grazings in Ross-shire. The central parts of the Counties of Inverness and Ross and Cromarty have been dealt with, as also the whole of Caithness-shire, the whole of Sutherlandshire, and certain parts of Easter Ross. I do not propose to recommend any fresh Commissioners, nor do I 527 consider it my duty to say how many meetings of the Commission each individual member shall attend. Mr. Macleod has withdrawn his resignation, and I have every hope that all the Commissioners will work together to fulfil the object for which they were appointed. 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.
§ * DR. MACGREGORMay I ask why the vacancy created by the resignation of one of the Commissioners was not filled up?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANMainly in the hope, which I am glad has been realised, that Mr. Macleod would withdraw his resignation.
§ * DR. MACGREGORSeeing that the two counties which are most interested in this question are not represented on the Commission, does the right hon. Gentleman think he will be able to present to this House a full and impartial Report?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANI think all the interests involved in this question are adequately represented on the Commission. Inverness-shire, at any rate, is directly represented.
§ DR. CLARK (Caithness)Has the right hon. Gentleman come to the conclusion not to ask for an Interim Report?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANI have absolutely no power to demand such a Report. When I communicated with the Commission on the question, they gave a very strong and unanimous expression of opinion backed up by very powerful reasons, and I have no power to act against the reasons given by the Royal Commission.
§ * DR. MACGREGORWill the right hon. Gentleman say which of the Commissioners represents Inverness-shire?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANThere are at least two who are resident in that county, and they may fairly be considered to represent it.
§ DR. MACGREGORIn the burgh—not the county.
§ SIR G. TREVELYANI did not say it was directly represented; I said all interests were represented as far as possible.