§ 2. Mr. Walkdenasked the Minister of Labour how many gamekeepers were employed in Great Britain before the present war; how many of them are now engaged in His Majesty's Forces, including the Home Guard; how many have been transferred to useful occupations such as poultry-rearing; and whether he will take steps to ensure that the remainder shall be similarly employed throughout the duration of the war?
§ Mr. AsshetonStatistics giving the information desired in the first three parts of the Question are not available. With regard to the last part of the Question, gamekeepers, as such, are not included in the Schedule of Reserved Occupations, but I am informed by my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries that considerable numbers of gamekeepers are required for essential work in the destruction of rabbits and other vermin. In so far as gamekeepers are not required for this purpose, the Ministry's local offices will give every assistance in transferring them to other work of national importance.