§ Sir W. SUTHERLANDasked the Prime Minister whether he will have inquiries made regarding the action of the Forestry Commision in taking over for forestry, in the Highlands of Scotland, many of the best and most productive cattle, sheep, and arable farms when there are many acres of unproductive deer forest land quite suitable for forestry?
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§ Mr. ACLANDI have been asked to take over this question. The Forestry Commissioners are fully aware of the importance of afforesting deer forests and have acquired in Scotland 64,000 acres of deer forest as opposed to 57,000 acres of rough grazing and farm land. In view of the low percentage of planting land found in the deer forests already surveyed, it is doubtful if this ratio can be maintained. The Forestry Commissioners are not planting nor do they intend to plant any arable farms; such arable land as has been taken over in the acquisition of estates has been utilised for (1) forest nurseries, (2) cultivation by existing tenants, and (3) the creation of new holdings.