32. The following question stood upon the Order Paper in the name of Mr. MACLEAN:To ask the hon. Member for Monmouth, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether he is aware that the sheep pastures in Glenshiel have been taken over by the Forestry Commissioners for tree planting; that sheep have been driven off the grazinigs by the Commissioners' representative and have been driven back again by their owners; and whether he can state how many acres of land, apart from those sheep grazings, are still available for afforestation and not yet planted by the Commissioners?
§ Mr. KIRKWOODMy hon. Friend has asked me to put this question. Is there to be no reply?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThere is no obligation on a Minister or hon. Member to appear and reply to a question when the hon. Member who has the question on the Paper is not present.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODMy hon. Friend asked me to put the question. Does not that put him completely in order?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is quite entitled to ask the question on behalf of his hon. Friend, but the Rule of the House is that a Minister is not obliged to stay in the House if the hon. Member who has a question down is late.