§ 2.35 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT BLEDISLOEMy Lords, I should like to explain that, by some strange error in transcription, the words "Government Committee," as I drafted them, have on the Order Paper been converted into "Royal Commission". I may say that I have presided over three Royal Commissions and I know the difference between a Royal Commission and a Government Committee. While recognising the extreme illegibility of my handwriting, I cannot quite understand how the words "Government Committee" could have been transformed into "Royal Commission". I am asking this Question as the Senior Verderer of the Forest of Dean, an office which I have held, incidentally, for the last forty-nine years. I now beg to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government when it is anticipated that the Government Committee appointed more than a year ago to consider the future administration of the Forest of Dean, especially in regard to commoners' grazing rights, will issue their Report, and Legislation based thereon be introduced.]
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD (EARL ST.ALDWYN)My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Viscount, Lord Bledisloe, for clearing up the point of his Question. The Committee which is considering the situation in the Forest of Dean, particularly as regards commoners' grazing rights, was appointed 26 in June, 1955, by the Forestry Commissioners. A considerable amount of evidence has already been taken by the Forest of Dean Committee, and more has yet to be taken. I am afraid I cannot at present forecast when the Committee will be able to make its Report and recommendations or what, if any, legislation might result.
§ VISCOUNT BLEDISLOEMy Lords, in reply to what the noble Earl has said, may I suggest that the acceleration of the issue of this Report ought to be encouraged by the Government, bearing in mind what has actually happened? A large number of sheep, claimed to be owned by commoners in the Forest of Dean, which are, unfortunately, wandering about the roads, have been largely instrumental in spreading a serious outbreak of foot and mouth disease. If only the Committee had reported this, and action had been taken along the lines suggested by the verderers and others in the district, it would have been brought under proper control and this spreading would have been averted. I venture to hope that Her Majesty's Government will take steps to accelerate the issue of this Report and indeed, the introduction of the necessary legislation as soon as possible.
§ LORD BARNBYMy Lords, I should like to add a word in support of what my noble friend Lord Bledisloe has said. This is a matter of great urgency. There are about the country large areas of common land which were recently under cultivation. They are now going out of cultivation, and—
§ LORD BARNBYThe question I was going to ask the noble Earl is whether he can suggest that there are any means temporarily possible for those public bodies who are respossible for the common land to let it with a view to increasing agricultural production.
EARL ST. ALDWYNI can assure the noble Viscount, Lord Bledisloe, that we are very concerned by the spread of foot and mouth disease in the Forest of Dean, and that we will do all we can to expedite the workings of this Committee so that we can get the desired results. With regard to the question asked by my noble friend Lord Barnby, although it might 27 appear to arise out of the Question on the Order Paper, the noble Viscount, Lord Bledisloe, assured the House that his Question is not correctly worded and dealt entirely with the Forest of Dean.