HC Deb 09 July 1903 vol 125 c159
MR. WEIR

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, seeing that an increased area of land is annually absorbed for the enlargement of deer forests in the Highland crofting counties, and that a Royal Commission has reported that much of the land used as deer forests might be used for increasing the food supply of the nation, will he, in view of a possible change in the fiscal policy of the country, consider the expediency of introducing legislation such as will tend to check the enlargement of the deer forest area.

THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.

I cannot accept the premises of the hon. Gentleman and am therefore not called upon to agree with him in his conclusions. In any case I fail to see any connection between deer forests and the fiscal inquiry.

MR. WEIR

Does the right hon. Gentleman deny the accuracy of the report which I have quoted?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I cannot add anything to my answer.