Island of Rhum (Nature Reserve)

HC Deb 14 May 1957 vol 570 cc192-3

9. Mr. Woodburn

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what grounds the public are to be prohibited from landing on the island of Rhum which is now publicly owned.

Mr. N. Macpherson

The island of Rhum has been acquired by the Nature Conservancy, which has declared it a nature reserve. If in the interests of scientific research, the Conservancy wishes to make byelaws restricting access to the island, these will be submitted to my right hon. Friend for confirmation; and he will have to consider them in the light of any objections which may be lodged after they have been published. He could not, therefore, appropriately make any comment at this stage.

Mr. Woodburn

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will not allow this island to be closed just on theoretical grounds, but that he will require fairly substantial evidence from the Nature Conservancy that the landing of people on this island will seriously interfere with its work? Is he aware that for the last thirty or forty years there has been great indignation in Scotland about this island being closed, long before the Nature Conservancy took over? Now that this island belongs to the National Trust, is he aware that, so far as I know, the National Trust sees no reason why the public should not land on it, as well as on St. Kilda?

Mr. Macpherson

I take note of what the right hon. Gentleman has said. He will realise that one of the reasons why the Nature Conservancy has declared it to be a nature reserve is that it has not in recent years been frequented by tourists, and is therefore a very apt place in which to study nature.

Mr. Woodburn

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that one of the points of satisfaction about the public owning this island is that the previous restrictions by a private landlord can now be removed, and that the public can visit the island which it owns?

Mr. Macpherson

I would, however, draw the attention of the right hon. Gentleman to Part III of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, which lays down what are the functions and duties of the Nature Conservancy once it has declared it to be a nature reserve.