74. MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEasked the Secretary for Scotland whether the 2,367 acres mentioned in the Report of the Highlands and Islands Commission (1892), pages 12 to 53, as being all the 1952 ground representing old arable in deer forests in the scheduled areas, was correct at the time; and, if not, how much more arable was there in the scheduled deer forests at the time and where was it?
The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. McKinnon Wood)The Royal Commission gave careful consideration to the questions referred to them, and I am unable to go behind the statements of fact contained in their Report.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINECan the right hon. Gentleman inform me whether the Scottish Office have any information that would justify the assertion that now, or at any time, there are or were millions of acres in deer forests in.Scotland that were once arable or capable of being cultivated?
77. Mr. FREDERICK HALL (Dulwich)asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the figures 1,782,785 acres, given on page 22 of the Highlands and Islands Commission Report, 1892, refer to sheep-grazing or deer-forest land, or, if to both, how much of the land quoted is deer forest and how much of that arable or fit for cultivation?
Mr. McKlNNON WOODI fear I can only refer the hon. Member to the terms of the Report, including the figures given in the Appendix.
Mr. F. HALLMay I ask how it is that the Chancellor of the Exchequer is able to give information as to how much land is available or fit for cultivation?