HL Deb 11 March 1965 vol 264 cc179-82

3.5 p.m.

VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARD

My 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 how many meetings of the Advisory Panel on the Highlands and Islands, as distinct from meetings of Committees of the Panel, took place to discuss and prepare the Report on Land Use; and whether the Report was signed by all members of the Panel.]

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SCOTLAND (LORD HUGHES)

My Lords, I understand that the preparation of this Report occupied the Advisory Panel on the Highlands and Islands over a period of four years. Under the close direction of the Panel, which met on average five times each year during this period, much of the detailed work was carried out by their Agriculture and Forestry Group, the meetings of which were, however, open to all Panel members. Every member of the Panel was given the opportunity of commenting in writing on the draft Report and of discussing it in full Panel. The final Report was approved by the Panel for submission to my right honourable friend, and was signed and submitted on their behalf by the Chairman, Lord Cameron.

VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARD

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for his Answer, may I ask him whether he is aware that there appear to be certain inaccuracies in this Report? Further, when the Final Report had been prepared, what period of time were the members of the Panel given in which to write in and approve the Report?

LORD HUGHES

My Lords, on the first part of the noble Viscount's supplementary question, I am not aware of inaccuracies in the Report, although in the case of a Report of this nature it would not surprise me to find that different people looked at the same facts in a different way. On the second part, I do not know the exact time which was given, but having regard to the responsible nature of the membership of the Highland Panel and the way in which they have regarded their work, I am quite satisfied that they would not for one moment have consented to a Report going forward in their name if they had not been given adequate time to consider it.

LORD BURTON

My Lords I thank the Minister for his reply. Can he tell us whether there was any discussion at the full Panel meetings?

LORD HUGHES

My Lords, I cannot give that information from my own knowledge, but knowing the Highland Panel, I should be very surprised if that were not the case. If in fact it is the case, and there was not discussion, it would mean that the Panel had in fact read the Report very carefully before consenting to it. But what I will do, if the noble Lord wishes it, is to inquire on this particular point and write to him in due course, and perhaps also to the noble Viscount, Lord Massereene and Ferrard.

VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARD

My Lords, does the noble Lord not agree that, in the case of a Report of this great importance, all members of the Panel ought to have signed it?

LORD HUGHES

Not necessarily. The method by which a continuing body such as the Highland Panel elect to do their work is obviously a matter best for them to decide.

LORD BURTON

My Lords, in reply the noble Lord stated that he was not aware of any inaccuracies in the Report. Was he aware that the Forestry Commission submitted a report to the Inverness County Council only last week saying that the Panel were inaccurate in suggesting that there should be planting in the Western Islands?

LORD HUGHES

That, my Lords, merely bears out my point that different people—or, if I may add to it, different bodies—may look at the same situation and arrive at different conclusions. I have so far had the benefit of seeing the observations which the Forestry Commission have made to my right honourable friend on the subject, and they are, I would say, very satisfactory to the membership of the Highland Panel.

VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARD

Further, my Lords, could the noble Lord tell me: does he know of any other instances where a Report has been made and the members of the Panel have not signed it? Is there any precedent for a Report not being signed by all those responsible for producing it?

LORD HUGHES

My Lords, I am not aware of any such position, but my membership of your Lordships' House is so comparatively recent that that statement does not carry any weight at all. What I should like to say, if I may he permitted to say this also in this Chamber, is that I have never been afraid of creating precedents, but I hope that I should never be a party to creating a bad precedent.

VISCOUNT DILHORNE

My Lords, whether or not the noble Lord is afraid of creating precedents, if a body is set up to make a Report and that Report embodies the views of all the members of that body, surely, without asking the noble Lord to create a precedent, it is the regular practice for all members to sign the Report as embodying their views.

LORD HUGHES

My Lords, it may or it may not be the case. I have no indication whatever—nor do I believe that anyone else has any indication—that the Report is not acceptable to all the members of the Panel.

LORD BURTON

My Lords, could the noble Lord say whether it is not unusual for a body such as the Highland Panel to fail to consult bodies like the Forestry Commission, the Crofters' Commission, the Deer Commission, and so on, before issuing such a Report?

LORD HUGHES

Of course, my Lords, the Highlands is a very unusual place.

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