§ Mr. Lambertasked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether he will release men who understand land work, now employed by his Department on tree planting, for food production purposes; and whether he will order that no 482W more agricultural labourers shall be recruited by the Forestry Department?
§ Sir G. CourthopeArrangements with the county war agricultural executive committees have been in force for some time whereby Forestry Commission labourers not immediately required for essential maintenance or forest protection work are released for agricultural work during the summer. While no absolute assurance can be given with regard to the second part of the Question every endeavour is made to avoid competition with agriculture.