HC Deb 24 October 1950 vol 478 cc2678-80
14. Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will ensure that, before agricultural land is transferred to forestry, there is adequate consultation with the National Farmers' Union.

Mr. T. Fraser

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the existing arrangements for safeguarding agricultural interests are adequate. These include consultation in each case with the chairman of the agricultural executive committee.

Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton

Would not the hon. Gentleman agree that, in view of the importance of food production to the country, it is very important that men with an adequate local knowledge of farming conditions should be consulted? Is it not the case that in some instances some Departmental officials are not so fully informed on local conditions as they might be?

Mr. Fraser

I should have thought that the chairman of the agricultural executive committee was a person with local knowledge. He is not an official of the Department.

Mr. Vane

Who has the Secretary of State to advise him on forestry matters other than the Forestry Commission, who are always interested parties?

Mr. Fraser

The original Question asked about advice, not on forestry matters, but on agricultural matters. My right hon. Friend has the Department of Agriculture as well as the Forestry Commission to advise him on that.

Mr. Snadden

Why do not the Forestry Commission take in hand the planting of the vast areas of Inverness-shire which were cut down after the First World War?

Mr. Speaker

We cannot have a discussion on forestry as a whole. This Question asks only whether there is consultation with the N.F.U. before agricultural land is transferred to forestry.

Sir David Robertson

Why should any land in Scotland which is capable of growing food be used for timber growing when we have such an abundance of mountainous land suitable for forestry?

Mr. Fraser

That is a different question. I was originally asked about consultation with the N.F.U. before agricultural land is transferred to forestry. The hon. Member is now asking me to justify the planting of trees on land which would grow food. There is very little land which would not grow some food, but we have to hold the balance, and we have to plant trees where that would mean a better use of the land.