§ 69. Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he and his advisers have considered biological methods in connection with the problem of exterminating bracken, with a view to the introduction of a natural fungus or parasite to attack and, if possible, destroy the bracken?
§ Mr. ColvilleYes, Sir. The possibility of controlling the spread of bracken by biological methods has been considered by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland and the West of Scotland Agricultural College. Investigations were carried out at various centres in Scotland over a period of seven years with a view to utilising a fungus as a means of control but no success was achieved.
§ Mr. GibsonWill the right hon. Gentleman make representations to the university authorities in Scotland, and particularly the biological departments in the universities, to have an intensified study of the bracken in association with its mode of life in order that a solution of this problem may be obtained?
§ Mr. ColvilleI will bear the suggestion of the hon. and learned Member in mind, but I am bound to say that a very intensive study of this question was made some years ago, and no doubt he has read the report by Professor Braid.
Mr. JohnstonWill the right hon. Gentleman say why it is the case that the intensive study they are making costs the State £100 per annum?
§ Mr. ColvilleI cannot agree with that figure.
§ Mr. Malcolm MacMillanIs it not the fact that increased grants should be available to the local authorities for the use of machines for cutting bracken?
§ Mr. ColvilleThe grants already available have not been fully taken up.
§ Mr. MacMillanWill the right hon. Gentleman see to it that the grants are taken up through the local authorities?
§ Mr. ColvilleYou may lead a horse to water, but you cannot always make him drink.
§ 70. Mr. Neil Macleanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the admitted serious encroachment of bracken on pastoral lands in certain parts of Scotland, he is satisfied that the grant of £4,000 in three years towards the purchase of 200 bracken-cutting machines by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland is a sufficient attempt to mitigate this encroachment; and whether, as bracken is considered a weed, he will institute drastic measures against those proprietors 1256 of land who are doing nothing to stop the increase?
§ Mr. ColvilleI would refer the hon. Member to the replies which I gave him to two questions on this subject on 27th June.
§ Mr. MacleanIs it not the fact that the reply to which the right hon. Gentleman refers me is the reply in which he refers these two questioners to the reply given to me earlier on? Will not he reply to the question on the Order Paper, which is an entirely different question from the one to which he referred the two questioners of last week?
§ Mr. ColvilleNo, Sir. I think that if the hon. Member will read the answers to which I referred he will see that they covered the point which he now raises.
§ Mr. MacleanMay I point out that it does not cover the same point, and the right hon. Gentleman had better look into the matter quickly, otherwise the whole of Scotland will be under bracken, and he will have no place for which to be Secretary of State.
§ Mr. ColvilleThe hon. Member overstates the case, but he will see that I recognise the difficulty in these questions.