§ MR. FIENNES (Oxfordshire, Banbury)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that large tracts of land in the New Forest belonging to the Crown are valuable for the camping and training of soldiers of all branches of the service, owing to the practical and natural facilities they afford, he will consider the advisability of taking stops to make use of this land on a large scale for military purposes.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) I am glad that my hon. friend has given me the opportunity of pointing out how much the War Department is indebted to the Office of Woods and Forests for the facilities which they have granted every year for training in the New Forest. At the same time I am glad to draw attention to the great assistance given to us by the venderers. I can assure my hon. friend that, in view of the constant help given to the troops by both the Office of Woods and Forests and the verderers, there is no necessity to take any steps of the nature suggested in the Question.