§ 6. Major Anstruther-Grayasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence whether his Department will 1219 issue an overall instruction that members of the Forces who can be spared from their duties to assist with the harvest may be granted facilities to do so.
§ Mr. BirchNo, Sir. Commanding officers in all three Services already have authority and are encouraged to allow such of their men as can be spared to help farmers with the harvest.
§ Major Anstruther-GrayCan my hon. Friend give us any idea of the extent to which this authority is being taken advantage of in order to help the harvest wherever possible?
§ Mr. BirchI understand that arrangements have been satisfactory in the past, but we have not yet got to the main part of the harvest.