§ Captain Pluggeasked the Minister of Agriculture why the New Forest Pastoral Development Scheme has been limited to an experiment with 500 acres only; and whether, in view of the promise of this scheme and the original suggestion that a greater acreage would be involved, he can hold out any hope of large-scale developments at an early date?
Mr. HudsonThe scheme was not limited to the specified area, but the initial expenditure of £5,000 was approved in order to test the possibilities of the pastoral development of typical blocks of land and the cost of such development. I see no advantage in enlarging the scope of the experiment until further experience has been gained, more especially as the available machinery and labour are required more urgently in other places at the present time.