§ 44. Mr. Henderson Stewartasked the Prime Minister whether, following upon the changes effected by the Crown Lands Bill, 1943, and in order to secure the best possible use of Scottish land for productive purposes under one central direction, he will set up an authoritative ministerial committee to consider dividing the functions of the Forestry Commission and handing them over to the Ministry of Agriculture and the Scottish Department of Agriculture, respectively, thus ensuring that a Minister of the Crown will be directly responsible to Parliament for all forestry work?
§ Mr. AttleeNo, Sir. As my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister without Portfolio indicated in his speech in the Debate on the Address, the future of forestry in this country is one of the many subjects already engaging the attention of His Majesty's Government, and I do not think, in these circumstances, that any useful purpose would be served by setting up a special committee on the lines suggested in the Question.
Mr. StewartIs the House to understand that the suggestion for reorganisation of the control of forestry is actively under consideration?
§ Mr. AttleeYes, Sir.
§ Mr. MathersIs my right hon. Friend aware that what is desired is a separate Scottish Forestry Commission?.