§ 29. Mr. E. BROWNasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the recent official statement that a beginning has been made with a scheme, planned in secret, which will eventually bring about the complete reclamation of the waste places, and especially the bog lands, of Great Britain, he will say whether such a scheme has been discussed at the Scottish Office; whether the details were there given; and what conclusion was arrived at?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI have no knowledge of any official statement or scheme of the nature referred to in the first part of the question. The Board of Agriculture has, for some time past, been 1530 carrying on experiments in reclamation in Dumfriesshire; and I am aware that, following on an inspection of these experiments, a generous offer of funds has been made with the object of enabling further experiments to be made in the reclamation of peatlands. The matter is under consideration but I am not in a position to make any statement at this stage.
§ Mr. BROWNHas the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the fact that the Chairman of the Board of Agriculture in Scotland did make a statement to certain selected Press men? May I send him a, copy of the report?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI have seen that newspaper report, which I confess I have not, read in detail, but I do not think it can be taken that it is the official report.