HC Deb 24 June 1943 vol 390 cc1308-9
72. Mr. Turton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the Holt bracken breaker has been taken off the list of machines approved for grant in the campaign for the eradication of bracken in Scotland; and whether he is aware that the experiments conducted by Leeds University have demonstrated the effectiveness of this machine?

The Joint Under-Secretary for Scotland (Mr. Allan Chapman)

The Holt breaker, in common with other machines of the bruising or crushing type, was removed from the list of approved machines on the recommendation of the expert Committee which has conducted inquiries into methods of bracken eradication in Scotland since 1934. The Committee's recommendation was made after extensive trials of both bruising and cutting types of machines over a period of five years, and my right hon. Friend is assured that the trials clearly indicated the superiority of the cutting type of machine for Scottish conditions. My right hon. Friend has no information as to whether, in the trials of the Holt machine by Leeds University which are reported to have given satisfactory results, any comparison was made with cutting machines.

Mr. Turton

Will my hon. Friend get his expert committee to go to this university so that Scotland can learn how Yorkshire is dealing with the eradication of bracken?

Mr. Chapman

We have carried out experiments for five years, and we have found that the cutting type is superior to the bruising type.