Red Deer Commission: Chairman (Hansard, 8 December 1983)

§ Viscount Mountgarret
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

§ The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Lord Gray of Contin)
My Lords, no qualifications are prescribed by statute. In practice. the criteria are knowledge and experience relevant to the work of the commission, together with the qualities necessary for the effective and successful discharge of the commission's business.

§ Viscount Mountgarret
My Lords, that, if I may say so, was a most interesting reply. Is my noble friend 1188 aware that I am given to understand that the chairman-designate of the Red Deer Commission claims to have no special knowledge of red deer? Is my noble friend further aware that the commission claim an equal degree of knowledge of the chairman-designate as he of red deer, that the first they knew about his appointment was when it was announced, and that the chosen person himself only knew about his appointment a week earlier? Would it not be preferable to ensure that people chosen to head these relatively small but nonetheless very important bodies have a respectable amount of experience of the subject matter, and that the boards or commissions concerned have confidence in the experience of their leaders?

§ Lord Gray of Contin
My Lords, I hope that my noble friend is not suggesting for one moment that the chairman-designate is not of the highest repute and well able to carry out the job which is being entrusted to him as from 1st January. Mr. Mackenzie is a well respected hill sheep breeder. He is thoroughly conversant with the highland hill habitat occupied by deer and, having stalked himself, he will be aware of the need to have regard for the competing interests of farmers, foresters and deer forest owners. I am confident that he will discharge his new duties very well indeed. It may be of moderate advantage that he is in possession of a valid small firearms licence.

§ Viscount Mountgarret
My Lords, at this juncture may I say to my noble friend that I am not suggesting in any way that the chairman-designate is anything but a person of the highest calibre and integrity. I was merely asking my noble friend about his qualifications and knowledge of red deer.

§ Lord Mishcon
My Lords, only so that we end this Question on a jovial note, may I ask the Minister whether our children and grandchildren might not suggest that one of his qualifications should be to have a red nose?

§ Lord Gray of Contin
My Lords, I find it difficult to respond to the noble Lord. I cannot compete with his wit.

§ Lord John-Mackie
My Lords, the Minister is aware that red deer do not belong to anybody; they can be shot on the landowner's land if they are roaming on it. It is much better to have a chairman who is at the receiving end of damage rather than a chairman who provides damage.

§ Lord Gray of Contin
My Lords, since it was created in 1959 the Red Deer Commission has been singularly fortunate in having a very distinguished group of chairmen, who have all fulfilled extended periods of office. I would take this opportunity to pay a particular tribute to the immediate past chairman, who has given nine valuable years of service and who is widely respected. He is also a farmer. When he became chairman he had no specialist knowledge, but he has proved that this is not a prerequisite for carrying out the job with great efficiency.

§ Lord Hughes
My Lords, may I ask the Minister whether he remembers that on a previous occasion a 1189 member of your Lordships' House in a debate on red deer showed that he was exceedingly knowledgeable? He never became chairman of the Royal Commission, but perhaps the Minister will remember that he became a predecessor of his as Minister of State at the Scottish Office.

§ Lord Gray of Contin
My Lords, one never knows what may lie ahead for Mr. Mackenzie.

§ Lord Mowbray and Stourton
My Lords, would not my noble friend agree that in the eleventh century William Rufus, of fame in Great Britain, killed red deer in the New Forest? Perhaps the name Rufus might be added to Lord Mishcon's suggestion of a red rose.