§ 97. Mr. N. McLeanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the extent of the damage caused to hill and marginal farms by red deer; and how many cases have been brought to the notice of the Agricultural Executive Committees of the seven Highland counties since 1st October, 1956.
§ Mr. MaclayI know that deer cause considerable damage in certain districts in Scotland, but I cannot provide an estimate of the amount of damage. Since 1st October, 1956, Agricultural Executive Committees have received forty complaints of damage by deer in the seven crofting counties.
§ 98 and 99. Mr. N. McLeanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he will give the number of times, since 1st October, 1956, that the police in the seven Highland counties have intercepted or have had interceptions reported to them of vehicles containing deer carcases thought to have been shot on someone else's property;
36W(2) whether he will state the number of cases of poaching deer that have been brought to the notice of the police in the seven Highland counties since 1st October, 1956.
§ Mr. MaclayI am sorry that the information desired by my hon. Friend is not immediately available, but it is being obtained and I hope to send it to him at an early date.