§ Mr. Rhys Daviesasked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether the Forestry Commission is to continue its normal programme of afforestation during the war; whether it is taking steps to assist in the supply of timber from its own plantations and from private woodlands; whether it has organised felling, marketing and transport of homegrown supplies; whether the Commission has been empowered to control the entire production, and to fix prices; and whether it has sufficient labour and technical personnel to carry out any additional work which may be deemed necessary in the national interest?
§ Sir G. CourthopeThe answer to the first part of the question is that the Forestry Commissioners are continuing to carry out afforestation operations to the extent which circumstances permit; the answer to the second part is in the affirmative; the operations referred to in the third part of the question are in process of organisation; as regards the fourth part the Commission has not been empowered to control the entire production or to fix prices, such duties being vested in the Minister of Supply; as regards the last part of the question I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Salford, West (Mr. Emery)238W on 31st October last. Additional technical personnel are being recruited as required. The position with regard to labour is becoming more difficult.