§ Sir T. Beamishasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will refuse to make grants towards the cost of bulldozing the topsoil and clearing undergrowth on any part of Ditchling Common until he has been satisfied that this work is entirely consistent with the rights of commoners.
§ Mr. John MackieSchemes for clearing 1½ acres of rabbit infested scrubland and to plough up 50 acres on Ditchling Common and re-seed them to grass were approved by my Department in March of this year. These schemes were submitted by a limited company claiming to have bought the rights regarding the soil from the Lord of the Manor. If the work is satisfactorily completed I can see no reason for witholding grant on either of these schemes. Any question of possible infringement of commoners' rights would be a matter for the courts to decide.