§ Mr. JOWETTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture (1) if he is aware that the present owner of Grinton Moor, situated on the south side of the 1657W River Swale, in Mid-swaledale, Yorkshire, a piece of moorland about 1,500 acres in extent, has prohibited the grazing there of more than 350 sheep and of all sheep not belonging to Ids private tenants, with a further prohibition against any sheep at all grazing on the moor during fourteen weeks in every year, although up to about two years ago under a previous owner Grin ton Moor grazed 800 sheep; and whether, having regard to the necessity of developing all the resources of our homeland to safeguard the people against continued shortage of food and raw materials, he will inform the present owner of Grinton Moor that ho must either arrange for the fullest possible use to be made of it for the production of food and raw materials or place it at the disposal of the Board of Agriculture for this purpose; (2) if he is aware that Whitaside Moor, situated on the south side of the River Swale, in Mid-Swaledale, Yorkshire, is stinted, and that in the year 1890 it grazed 1,500 sheep, whilst at present only 850 sheep must feed there; if he is aware that the owner of the game rights imposed the stints by arrangement with the farmers by paying prices so high for the stints that it became more profitable to the farmers to sell their right of keeping 650 sheep on this moor; and, if so, what steps lie intends to take to safeguard the interests of the public in this matter; and (3) if he is aware that Summerlodge Moor, which consists of 800 acres of moorland, situated on the south side of the River Swale, in Mid-Swaledale, Yorkshire, grazed 600 sheep in 1895, since which date the number of sheep permitted to be grazed there has been reduced in 1913 to 450, and more recently to 350; that the present occupier was forced to make the- last reduction, from 450 to 350, as a condition of his being accepted as tenant, the object of the reduction being to increase the number of grouse; and, if so, what steps he intends to take to safeguard the interests of the public in the matter?
§ Mr. PROTHEROI will reply to this and the two following questions together. The Board are not aware of the facts in any of the three cases mentioned, but they are making inquiries with regard to them through the Agricultural Executive Committee for the North Riding of Yorkshire with a view to ascertain whether any, and1658W what, action ought to be taken. The hon. Member will be informed of the result of the inquiries in due course.