3. Duchess of ATHOLLasked the Secretary of State for India if he has approved the recent acquiesence of the Government of India in the sale of the Imperial Forest College and Research Institute at Debra Dun; if so., what provision now exists for training men, British or Indians, for the All-India Forest Service, and what provision for forestry research in British-India on scientific and up-to-date lines?
§ Sir S. HOAREI have asked the Government of India for a report on this matter. Such information as I have on the subject seems to imply that the buildings to be diverted from Forestry purposes are those of the old College and Research Institute, and I have no reasons to suppose that the present facilities for research will in any way be affected.
Duchess of ATHOLLWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind that expert opinion is strongly in favour of a uniform 1511 system of training for Indian forestry officers, that the Government of India have spent nearly £900,000 on this Forestry Institute, which has been described by experts as the best in the world, and that it has also been held by experts that it is impossible to carry on forestry research successfully in isolation?
§ Sir S. HOAREI shall certainly take note of what my Noble Friend has said, but I think her observations would be more relevant on a discussion of the Joint Select Committee's report than in a supplementary question.