§ 20. Rear-Admiral Beamishasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware 901 that the Treasury has made a special grant to fishery boards to enable them to maintain their river bailiffs; and whether, in view of the nation-wide recreation of fishing, he will reserve as far as possible the 250 water bailiffs in England and Wales and thereby control river pollution, which war-time industry tends seriously to increase?
§ Mr. BevinIf and when any of the water bailiffs in question become liable to be called up, it will be open to the Fishery Board concerned to apply for the deferment of their calling up. Such men would not in any case be called up without reference to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
§ Rear-Admiral BeamishHas the right hon. Gentleman had any application for such reservation; and does he realise that these rivers which afford recreation for hundreds of thousands of people in this country are a national asset notwithstanding that it is war-time?