§ 16. Major WHELERasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a number of the trenches dug in the Sittingbourne district and throughout the country districts generally have not yet been filled in; that barbed wire entanglements still remain fixed, with the result that the land taken by the military authorities for these purposes is useless for cultivation, and the cultivation of surrounding land is impeded; and what steps he proposes to take to remove these obstructions to agricultural work?
§ Mr. FORSTERI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the very full answers given on the 17th and 26th March to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Epping and my right hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford, respectively. The arrangements for local settlement under the Defence of the Realm Losses Commission, referred to in the two answers quoted, have now been completed and were put into operation by an Army Council Instruction issued on 3rd April.
§ Major WHELERMay I take it that these trenches are to be dealt with?
§ Mr. FORSTERYes, Sir; I hope as quickly as possible.