§ Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, what was the sheep population grazed on deer forests in Scotland in 193S, and what is the corresponding prospective figure aimed at by his Department for the current year?
§ Mr. T. JohnstonThe number of sheep grazing on deer forests at 4th June, 1938, as shown by the agricultural returns, was 62,334. No limit has been fixed nor is any special figure aimed at. My desire is to secure that deer forests will be stocked to the fullest extent to which suitable stock are available.
§ Mr. Gibsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many sheep are being grazed on the forests of Killilan and Benmore as at the last available date; and what were the corresponding figures for the equivalent date the previous year?
§ Mr. JohnstonSome 2,200 sheep are at present being grazed on Killilan deer forest as compared with 158 in June 1940. Parts of Benmore deer forest are grazed by sheep from the adjoining farm of Invercassley on which there is at present a permanent stock of some 4,600. Steps are being taken to increase this number. The forest will also be grazed this summer by farmer's cattle and sheep, but I am not yet in a position to say the numbers to be put on. No return of the number of stock on the forest a year ago has been received.