§ Sir A. SINCLAIRasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the depredations 2825W of deer on agricultural land in Perthshire and other parts of the Highlands; what steps his Department proposes to take to protect the interests of the farmers and smallholders concerned; and when he proposes to introduce legislation on the lines of the Report of the Deer Forest Committee, 1922?
§ Major ELLIOTA meeting of representatives of the Scottish Land and Property Federation and of the agricultural societies concerned, was held at the instance of the Board of Agriculture for Scotland on 5th instant, at which various proposals for dealing with the depredations of deer were agreed to. My right hon. Friend is hopeful that as a result of this conference a substantial improvement in present conditions may be achieved, and it has been arranged that a similar conference be held next year. With regard to the last part of the question, he regrets that he is not at present in a position to give an undertaking with regard to further legislation.