§ 2.45 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT BLEDISLOEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they propose to implement the recommendations made in the Report of the Forest of Dean Committee (Cmnd. 686) and, if so, When some action may be expected.]
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD (EARL WALDEGRAVE)My Lords, a number of recommendations which might be acceptable to my right honourable friend (in particular those relating to the control of grazing) would require legislation, and I cannot forecast when this would be introduced. A number of other recommendations which are acceptable to my right honourable friend, especially those designed to preserve and improve the amenities of the Forest, are being put into force by the Forestry Commission. My right honourable friend is fully sympathetic to the view of the Committee that the unique character of this ancient Forest should be maintained.
§ VISCOUNT BLEDISLOEMy Lords, whilst I am grateful for the noble Earl's Answer, I should like to stress the importance of the recommendation made by the Committee regarding sheep. Nobody knows how many sheep there are in 254 the Forest of Dean: the Committee put the number at some 10,000. The sheep are uncontrolled and uncontrollable. They form a danger to motor traffic. They eat the young timber of trees and they damage peoples' gardens. But, far more important than that, they are—
§ SEVERAL NOBLE LORDS: Order! Order!
§ VISCOUNT BLEDISLOEThen I would ask that the recommendation dealing with sheep should be treated as a matter of urgency, particularly in view of the danger of foot-and-mouth disease.
EARL WALDEGRAVEMy Lords, I indicated in my first reply that matters concerning grazing, and especially the grazing of sheep, would require new legislation before we could control these sheep, and therefore I am not able to indicate at the moment what could be done, nor am I able to indicate when we could introduce such legislation.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, turning from sheep to men, may I ask what the Government propose to do to provide alternative employment for the miners, or the ex-miners, in the Forest of Dean, who have lost their employment, in many cases, through the closing of the mines and who desire to remain in the Forest as part of the ancient Forest community?
EARL WALDEGRAVEMy Lords, I am not sure that that question arises out of the Report of the Forest of Dean Committee. But the question of miners who have lost their employment—and many of them have not completely lost their employment—is largely a matter for the Coal Board.