§ 3. Colonel BURNasked the President of the Board of Agriculture if his attention has been called to the damage done by the heather beetle on hundreds of thousands of acres of moorland in the north of England and south of Scotland; and will he consider, as the best means of ridding the country of these pests, the advisability of passing legislation to authorise heather being burnt between the months of May and August?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Runciman)So far as England is concerned the Board have no reason to believe that the damage caused by the heather beetle is serious. With regard to Scotland, the hon. and gallant Gentleman should address his question to my right hon. Friend the Secretary for Scotland. I am advised that in England the burning of heather during the summer months is not illegal.