§ 26. Mr. WATTasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has convened several meetings in Edinburgh of the chairmen of food production committees in Scotland, and has urged them to induce farmers to break up more land in view of the shortage of food in the country; if so, is he aware that in several instances, and notably in the Seton golf-course case, where food production committees have agreed that 839 certain lands should be broken up, the Board of Agriculture of Scotland have refused to exercise their compulsory powers to back up these committees, and have so discouraged them in carrying out the duties assigned to them by the State; and will he have these cases further considered?
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL for SCOTLAND (Mr. Morison)The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; and my hon. and learned Friend may, therefore, be sure that any refusal to sanction the compulsory breaking up of land is only made for good reasons. I stated the position in regard to the Port Seton golf-course in my reply to my hon. and learned Friend on 28th February. Since then the case has been further considered, and the Board's decision reaffirmed, at least for the present season.
§ Mr. WATTCan the hon. and learned Gentleman give a single instance where the Board of Agriculture has backed up food products committees in compelling farmers and landowners to break up grass lands?