HL Deb 20 November 1956 vol 200 c371

2.39 p.m.

LORD BARNBY

My Lords, I beg to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the inevitable interval between the reporting of the Royal Commission on Common Lands, and any possible ensuing legislation, consideration can now be given to the provision of a fund out of which temporary allocation could be made to public authorities responsible for Common Lands, which only recently were in effective agricultural production, and are now forced into dereliction, with the result of the disadvantageous propagation of obnoxious weeds, and loss of potential national production of food.]

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD (EARL ST. ALDWYN)

My Lords, the obstacles to the effective maintenance and use of common land are primarily legal, and special financial assistance for its improvement would be unlikely by itself to produce worthwhile results. A public authority responsible for a common has financial power to clear noxious weeds but its ability to do so is impeded by the need to obtain the agreement of all the commoners and to refrain from interfering with any rights of public access.

LORD SILKIN

My Lords, could the noble Earl say when the Report of the Royal Commission which is sitting to inquire into this subject may be expected?

EARL ST. ALDWYN

My Lords, I regret that I cannot give the noble Lord a forecast of the date at all.

LORD SILKIN

Could the noble Earl find out whether it is imminent, or whether it is likely to take three, four or five years?

EARL ST. ALDWYN

My Lords, I can assure the noble Lord that it is not imminent, but I certainly hope it will not take four years or anything like that time. If I can get any more accurate information I will let him know.