Common Land

HC Deb 21 December 1964 vol 704 cc841-3

14. Mr. Carol Johnson

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources if he will introduce legislation implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Common Land.

27. Mr. Mawby

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources whether he intends to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Common Land, particularly registration of commoners and their rights.

2. Sir H. Studholme

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources when he proposes to introduce legislation dealing with common land, following the report of the Royal Commission, particularly in relation to grazing and animal husbandry.

Mr. Willey

Yes, Sir. A Bill is being introduced in another place today for a scheme of commons registration. The scheme will provide for the registration of claims that land is common, and of claims to the ownership of the land and of common rights. The Bill broadly follows the Royal Commission's recommendations for commons registration, but provides for registration to be completed in much less time than the 12 years proposed by the Commission.

Mr. Johnson

I thank my right hon. Friend for that very welcome reply. Can he give any estimate as to the length of the time the registration will require, as this is but the first process for implementing the recommendations? Secondly, can he hold out any hope in the meantime, of better arrangements being made for existing commons.

Mr. Willey

I will look at my hon. Friend's second point. As to the first point, we expect that we will be able to reduce the period to six or seven years.

Mr. Mawby

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is a good step forward on the whole question of common land, and that my right hon. Friend the previous Minister for Agriculture had become seized of the problem and had promised that legislation would be brought in? Nevertheless, this is a good move forward. Will the Minister make certain that as soon as the registration is completed we can get down to the proper statutory bodies to make certain that the distress that this has caused to numerous people—in respect, particularly, of animals wintering on the moors—will be properly dealt with?

Mr. Willey

I appreciate what the hon. Gentleman says. Of course, I recognise work was done by the previous Government, but I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's congratulations on our being able to do in six weeks what the previous Government were not able to do in six years.

Mr. Gibson-Watt

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the problems of common land vary very much in different parts of the country; that their histories, particularly in Wales, are very different from those in England? When the registrations have been made, will he give intricate and detailed attention to the treatment of these on their merits in the particular areas?

Mr. Willey

I assure the hon. Gentleman that what we are dealing with at the moment is the question of registration, and when we have provided for registration we can consider the other matters he has raised.