§ LORD DAVIESMy Lords, I beg to ask the second question standing in my name.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government, how many herds of park deer are still being maintained in this country and the total number of deer concerned; what is the aggregate acreage of land grazed by these animals; and what steps are being taken to utilize these parks and similar enclosures for the production of food.]
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (THE DUKE OF NORFOLK)My Lords, my Department has no up-to-date statistical information as regards the number of deer, but in carrying out their duties in connexion with the food production campaign, county war agricultural executive committees have paid particular attention to deer parks and arrangements have been made for the ploughing-up of suitable land and the grazing of the land by ordinary farm stock, the number of deer being necessarily reduced in consequence.