§ 27. Sir D. Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the objections of the people of Sutherland to the recommendations of the Scottish Wild Life Conservation Committee to reserve a large part of the county as conservation areas; and if he will withhold approval from this plan which would restrict the mode of life of the people and the important contribution which they are making to increase the nation's food.
Mr. McNeilThe Scottish Committee of the Nature Conservancy with whom responsibility rests have no proposals for reserving land in Sutherland, but should any such proposals be made, I can assure the hon. Member that the county council would be fully consulted.
§ Sir D. RobertsonWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the wishes of the people of Sutherland must come before all others in any consideration given to this matter?
Mr. McNeilThe hon. Gentleman must not work himself up into a frenzy of indignation about something which has not happened.
§ Mr. John MacLeodWill the Secretary of State realise that we hope to populate the Highlands with people before extending wild life any further?
Mr. McNeilThere is no question here of extending wild life. I should be delighted to have the aid of the hon. Gentleman in exterminating undesirable political life.
§ Lord Malcolm Douglas-HamiltonWill the Secretary of State give the House an assurance that there is no question of denying the public access to any areas of the Highlands above the 2,500 feet contour mark?
Mr. McNeilI must assure hon. Gentlemen opposite that this is a piece of hypothesis. The suggestion was made, but the organisations with which responsibility lies, have made no proposals at all.
§ Sir D. RobertsonThe right hon. Gentleman referred to the extermination of political vermin or something like that. Are not the people of Sutherland, Caithness and all Scotland capable of exterminating all that they do not want?