§ MR. A. C. MORTON (Peterborough)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government will bring in a Bill for the purpose of removing any doubts as to whether commoners, who, in right of their holdings, turn cattle and sheep on the common lands of a parish, come under the Ground Game Act of 1881, and so enable the commoners to protect themselves from the damage done by the rabbits which eat or pollute the grass growing thereon to the prejudice of their flocks and herds, and from any interference by the lord of the manor or his keepers?
§ MR. ASQUITHThere are no "doubts" on the question. The Ground Game Act, 1880, expressly provides that—
A person shall not be deemed an occupier of land for the purposes of this Act by reason of his having a right of common over such lands.The Home Office has not heard of any 1263 cases of injury such as described by my hon. Friend's question. It is not a matter in which the Government propose legislation.