§ 49. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Minister of Defence what proportion of the 1,050,000 acres occupied by the Forces is in Scotland and how this compares with the figures of land occupied by the Forces in 1938.
§ Mr. AlexanderNearly In per cent. as compared with about 7 per cent. in 1938.
§ Mr. HughesIs my right hon. Friend aware that the War Office are contemplating taking another 21,000 acres of land in Roxburghshire? Will he reconsider this matter?
§ Mr. AlexanderMy hon. Friend will be seeing the White Paper which is being laid today. As indicated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War yesterday, Scotland is having a much smaller share of her land used for Service purposes than other parts of Britain. We have had pressure from other directions to take more land in Scotland and less elsewhere.
§ Mr. Hector HughesCan my right hon. Friend say how much of this land was formed food producing, and how much is food producing now, and what is being done to repair the consequent loss to the community?
§ Mr. AlexanderThat matter is dealt with in the White Paper. Perhaps my hon. and learned Friend will study it.
§ Lord William ScottWhen the land of Scotland is being taken will those parts which are not of high agricultural value be taken?
§ Mr. AlexanderI do not think that the White Paper will show that there is a great percentage of the land to be used anywhere which is of high agricultural value.
§ Lord William ScottIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the land on the Cheviots which it is proposed to take over is the finest sheep land in the South of Scotland?
§ Mr. AlexanderI am sure that all that will be examined during the usual procedure which will deal with the merits of such questions.