Red Deer (Hansard, 29 July 1964)

§ 11. Sir J. Duncan
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in the light of the recent annual report of the Red Deer Commission, he is satisfied that adequate progress is being made in achieving the conservation and control of red deer; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Noble
It is evident from the Commission's latest report that the deer population is still too large, and that it is not yet sufficiently appreciated by owners of sporting estates that their value depends on adequate control of numbers and improvement of stock quality. But the Commission's reports show a record of steady progress in dealing promptly with marauding deer, conducting regional surveys, persuading estates to participate in voluntary control schemes and in gaining the confidence and good will of both farmers and landowners. On all this, the Commission deserves to be warmly congratulated.

§ Sir J. Duncan
Are not the Government also to be congratulated on having passed the Deer Act, which makes this control of deer possible?

§ Mr. Willis
Is not this another case of the sporting tenant refusing to cooperate in what is obviously in the interests of Scotland?

§ Mr. Noble
I remember a good many remarks of that sort being made during the course of the proceedings on the Deer Bill. In fact, the Deer Commission has been most successful in getting voluntary help from sporting owners, as well as from farmers.

§ Mr. Rankin
Has it not been shown to be the case that the remarks made during the progress of the Deer Bill were completely true and that the landlords are not co-operating as the Minister at the time said that they would? Does not the Minister think that once again we should be looking at the question of bringing the Deer Bill up to date and putting the landlords in the Highlands in their proper place?

§ Mr. Noble
I think that the Deer Act gives the Deer Commission all the powers which it needs. The Commission has never asked for any extra powers. The fact that over the last few years the number of complaints about damage by deer have reduced very considerably shows that the House made a very good job of the Deer Act.