§ 53. Mr. Weitzmanasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what British personnel is employed by the North German Timber Control and for what purposes; and, having regard to the fact that Germans were experts to whom British timber merchants formerly went to learn the trade, why Germans are not now employed so that such personnel will only be required for supervisory purposes.
§ Mr. J. HyndThe task of the North German Timber Control is to convert what was formerly a timber-importing area into a large exporter, but the work is being done mainly by the German timber trade and forestry service, augmented by some 7,200 displaced persons under the supervision of British personnel, numbering 213 officers and 230 other ranks, whose duties are entirely administrative and supervisory.
§ Mr. WeitzmanDoes the Minister not agree that much advantage would accrue if a greater effort were made to recruit local expert knowledge in this connection?
§ Mr. HyndNo results would accrue because all local expert knowledge is already being fully employed. The fact is that for each British supervisor who can be sent over there we can find up to 200 displaced or other persons for inexperienced forestry work.