asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the concern expressed by many employees of the Forestry Commission as to the effect on their estates of the increased use of private contractors for felling, he will instruct the Commission to review their policy.

The proportion of timber sold by the Commission for felling has in fact decreased from 53 per cent. of their total production in 1965 to 45 per cent. in 1970. The Commission should in any case have freedom to sell their timber in the way which is most sensible in local circumstances; and they have no arbitrary bias in favour of selling it standing.