Mr John Wheatley: I am coming to them.
Mr John Wheatley: It is not necessary to duplicate legislation, and I am merely trying to indicate what already exists. In so far as Statutes or orders exist, they should be read with this Clause. Under the Destructive Insects and Pests Acts the Secretary of State can make an order and he must specify the particular pests or insects in respect of which the powers are to be exercised. Orders have been made in...
Mr John Wheatley: I cannot follow the trend of this Debate, bearing in mind the Debate which we had on this topic in Committee upstairs. If there was one subject on which there was complete unanimity at the end of a discussion during Committee stage, it was that we should consider removing from the Clause the words: except in a rabbit hole, in order to prevent the continued use of the steel trap in Scotland. I...
Mr John Wheatley: —but we got the support of the hon. Member for Galloway (Mr. McKie), who not only gave his own view, but rehearsed, as usual, the views of all the other Members on the Committee on the point. There was complete unanimity in the Committee. I cannot understand why opposition should now arise from hon. Members opposite to something which was conceded as being desirable—
Mr John Wheatley: Again, I willingly exclude the right hon. and learned Gentleman from my impeachment. I intended to deal with the points he has raised. We are left with snaring, gassing or shooting. As usual in Scotland a movement is always going on whereby we are experimenting with a view to ascertaining what further humane methods could be adopted. The right hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for...
Mr John Wheatley: As we are very much a democratic institution, we left this matter for consideration by the Scottish Grand Committee, and the Scottish Grand Committee were quite obviously unanimous in the view that this should be taken out of the Bill. We are giving effect to that unanimously expressed wish —expressed after a very full Debate—and in those circumstances I do not think it is necessary to...
Mr John Wheatley: I really cannot appreciate the purpose of this Amendment, because one of the functions of this Bill is to try to control the actions and movements of deer in so far as they might have a detrimental effect on agriculture and the crops of the country. I find it difficult to understand why one should restrict the control to red deer and not to other species of deer. We have various species of...
Mr John Wheatley: I do not intend to go through the Bill again.
Mr John Wheatley: Quite obviously, if they have these predatory habits they will not confine them to land of no special value. Even the so-called ornamental deer, normally enclosed in parks, on occasions break out. The Japanese deer we had in Peebleshire broke out and became fifth columnists and did much damage. Accordingly, I cannot see any justification for confining the definition to red deer, and I trust...
Mr John Wheatley: This Clause deals only with land acquired by the Secretary of State under this Bill. Therefore, if, in relation to that land, other Acts apply by virtue of the terms of those other Acts, then, to that extent, the use of the land will be qualified by the terms of the other Acts. It is manifestly unnecessary and redundant to include in this Clause a proviso to the effect that the use of the...
Mr John Wheatley: Even if we were prepared to accept this Amendment, I think the right hon. and learned Gentleman will agree that it cannot be included in this part of the Bill, which is the interpretation Clause. That is merely a minor point, and if it were the only objection, it could have been overcome. As I have said, we cannot accept this Amendment, because we must remember that the Secretary of State...
Mr John Wheatley: I said "economic," taking the long-term point of view, but we cannot gauge that during the currency of the first year or two of acquisition. I can give an undertaking that the Secretary of State will not design land unless it can be put to good agricultural use, bearing in mind the future long-term policy.
Mr John Wheatley: I beg to move, in page 81, line 41, at the end, to insert: 10. In Section twenty-six, in Subsection (2) (which Subsection relates to the renewal of a lease by tacit relocation) for the word 'renewed,' in both places where it occurs, there shall be substituted the words continued in force. This Amendment is introduced in order to make certain the position of leases which are renewed by tacit...
Mr John Wheatley: May I endorse what was said by the hon. and gallant Member in relation to a remark by the hon. Member for East Aberdeen (Mr. Boothby). Let us, in this discussion, try to keep a proper sense of proportion; let us try to view this question on its merits, free from any personalities and from any other considerations. While I welcome, and on this side of the Table we welcome, the assurance given...
Mr John Wheatley: If the hon. Member does not agree with that, I think he is the only hon. Member who has spoken in the Debate who has made that assertion. Whether or not the hon. Member for South Ayrshire or anyone else thinks that it should be preserved, we must recognise that even if this Bill were rejected the office would remain and the sum of £2,000 would be allowed to the High Commissioner to meet his...
Mr John Wheatley: If the hon. Member waits, I will deal with his speech. It has appeared in the national Press of this country under the heading "Increase of Salary to Lord High Commissioner."
Mr John Wheatley: I think I am right in saying that it was the "Daily Express," but other people have given it prominence from the point of view of paying an increase in salary. The hon. Member for South Ayrshire challenged the Secretary of State to say when he had ever referred to it as salary. May I refer him to a Question he himself asked on 3rd February of this year, as reported in the OFFICIAL REPORT. He...
Mr John Wheatley: I do not want this matter to develop into anything personal, but my right hon. Friend was challenged, and that is why I quoted this instance. When we introduce personalities into these matters there is a danger that we get away from the real arguments. I regret that personalities have been brought in. Reference has been made to the right hon. Member for Linlinthgow (Mr. Mathers), and in the...
Mr John Wheatley: I really do not propose to develop this point, because the hon. Member for South Ayrshire has agreed that he did use that word. I have with me excerpts from other national newspapers in which this word "salary" has been used, and used quite wrongly.
Mr John Wheatley: No, I shall not give way again. Putting the matter in its proper perspective, I feel it would be the wish of the people of Scotland that this office should be carried on with a certain degree of dignity commensurate with its nature. I think it would also be the wish of the people of Scotland that if it is necessary to pay for that office, the people responsible for the appointment should make...