§ 2.35 p.m.
§ LORD BARNBYMy Lords, I beg to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to common lands requisitioned during the war for the increased production of food and, in view of the large sums of public money expended on them, what is now being planned in cases where requisition is understood to end next year, for maintaining them in productive cultivation.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (THE EARL OF LISTOWEL)My Lords, the noble Lord will be aware that the existing law governing common land severely restricts its agricultural use. Nevertheless, a good deal can be done on commons of agricultural value by co-operation between the commoners and the Lord of the Manor. It is for them to initiate plans for the maintenance and management of the grazing in reasonably good condition, and the advice of the officials of my Department is readily available. I am sure the noble Lord will remember that many commons, some of which had to be requisitioned to produce food during the war, have a special value as open spaces.
§ LORD BARNBYMy Lords, arising out of that answer, am I right in assuming that, where urgent cases arise, and with a view to preventing land from sinking into disuse, power already exists to issue Orders to deal with the situation?
§ THE EARL OF LISTOWELMy Lords, I do not think anything much more can be done under existing laws. We are tied by existing laws, and we have to observe the terms of Parliamentary Statutes.