§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is aware that the Crown Agent for Scotland experienced considerable difficulty in preparing the Deer Forest Return, No. 346, 1226 dated 8th August, 1899, owing to the lack of accurate information in regard to the area of deer forests in the Highland crofting counties; and will he, with a view to remedying this difficulty, consider the expediency of introducing legislation such as will admit of the form of Return, headed "Valuation of Lands and Heritages (Scotland)," being provided with a column in which owners or tenants of deer forests will lie required to state the names and acreage of each forest in their possession or occupation.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe information lately issued is believed to be approximately accurate. There is no difficulty in obtaining it, although much labour is involved. The answer to the second paragraph is in the negative.
§ MR. WEIRIn consequence of the very unsatisfactory reply of the right hon. Gentleman to the first part of the question, I beg to give notice I shall call attention to the matter at the earliest opportunity.