§ 51. Sir Richard Aclandasked the Minister of Agriculture whether county agricultural committees have power to insist on such cultivation of areas held as 813 gathering grounds by local water authorities as can safely be conducted with due regard to considerations of health; and whether any instructions or advice has been sent to the committees on this matter?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithAssuming that the gathering grounds referred to come within the definition of agricultural land in Defence Regulation 100, as would normally be the case, it is competent for a committee to give directions under Regulation 62 as to the cultivation, management, or use of the land. In giving such directions, committees would be expected to have regard to considerations of public health and to take into account any views expressed by the particular authority concerned, but no specific instructions have been given to committees on this matter.
§ Sir R. AclandWould it not be a good thing to draw the attention of the committee to the answer which the right hon. Gentleman has just given?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithYes, we will do that.