§ 57. Mr. NEIL MACLEANasked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether the Forestry Commissioners have acquired sheep grazings and also arable lands in Scotland on condition that the subjects are to be used for afforestation purposes only, or whether the Government propose to create holdings under the Small Landholders Acts on the grazing and other lands so acquired by the Commissioners?
§ Colonel Sir GEORGE COURTHOPE (Forestry Commissioner)The Forestry Commissioners have acquired sheep grazings and arable lands in Scotland. The grazings are used partly for afforestation and partly for sheep. Arable land has been used for the formation of 298 forest workers' holdings. The Commissioners cannot create holdings under the Small Landowners Acts, but areas suitable for this purpose are offered to and sometimes accepted by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland.
§ 58. Mr. MACLEANasked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye as representing 2015 the Forestry Commissioners the number of sheep of all classes on lands in Scotland acquired for afforestation; the total sum paid by the State for sheep taken over in Scotland by the Forestry Commissioners; the total amount realised by the Commissioners from all sales of such sheep stock; and the approximate value of the sheep stock still unsold?
§ Sir G. COURTHOPEThe Forestry Commissioners have taken over 26,756 sheep in Scotland for £88,171. £47,828 has been realised from sales of sheep and the approximate value of the sheep stock in hand is £21,000. On land owned and let to tenants by the Commissioners there are approximately 25,000 sheep.
§ Sir JAMES DUNCAN MILLARCan the hon. and gallant Gentleman state the loss to the taxpayer arising from those transactions?
§ Sir G. COURTHOPENo, Sir. I should require notice of that question.
§ 59. Mr. MACLEANasked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, with regard to the acquisition by the Forestry Commissioners of part of the lands of Kirk-ton, Balquidder, Perthshire, for afforestation purposes, and the purchase of ewe hoggs from the outgoing tenant of the farm of Kirkton at £4 6s. per head, which subsequently realised in the market only 27s. 3d. per head, whether he can state the total loss involved in that matter and how much of the loss is borne by the Government?
§ Sir G. COURTHOPEThe Forestry Commissioners took no part in the transaction and of course incurred no loss.
§ Mr. RHYSCan my hon. and gallant Friend say whether ewe hoggs should be rendered in English as sheep or pigs?