§ 32. Mr. Andrew MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to increase the number of red deer in Scotland.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythI have no proposals to increase the number of red deer in Scotland. The Red Deer Commission has the general function of furthering the control and conservation of red deer. The Commission has recommended that the hind population of around 160,000 should be reduced by approximately 50,000 to achieve a hind/stag ratio of no more than 1.3 to 1.