§ Mr. MACLEANasked the Prime Minister whether he has now considered the practicability of questions dealing with matters under the jurisdiction of the Forestry Commission being answered by some responsible Minister; and whether those questions will in future be answered by the Minister for Agriculture for England and Wales, and in Scotland by the Secretary for Scotland?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have carefully considered this matter. As the hon. Member is aware, the policy embodied in the Forestry Act of 1919 of keeping the administration of the Forestry Commission outside the arena of politics was strongly supported by men of all parties, and was adopted for760W an experimental period of 10 years. The whole position will have to be reviewed within two years' time, and, in my opinion, any important change such as that proposed in the question should await that review.