33. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked what steps have been taken to secure that new planting will keep pace with the present unprecedentedly large cutting of timber?
§ Mr. ACLANDLarge numbers of plants are now being raised from seed and many more will be grown next season. By this means a substantial proportion of the plants required for planting operations after the War will be provided.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether any steps are being taken to secure that there will be planting in these cases where large areas have been cut?
§ Colonel NORTON GRIFFITHSCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is not time to attend to this after the War?
§ Mr. ACLANDIt is the fact that labour difficulties make it almost impossible to proceed with any large operations of re-afforestation.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTWill the right hon. Gentleman reply to my question, whether any steps are being taken to secure that there will be planting commensurable with those areas which are cut?
§ Mr. ACLANDNo. The question of the policy of the Government in regard to the afforestation after the War is being considered very carefully. I do not think anything further than that is being done, and I do not think it would be a good thing to do it, because, quite clearly the work cannot be tackled until the War is over and labour is available.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTAre we to understand that during the War, however long it lasts, no steps whatever are to be taken to secure the replanting of areas which are being felled now?
§ Mr. ACLANDIt cannot be done.
§ 34. Sir PHILIP MAGNUSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he has taken full advantage of the fall of timber in March last; whether he will undertake that in the coming autumn measures will be adopted for the reafforestation of all woods in which, under the orders of the Board, there has been a wholesale felling of trees; and what steps he proposes to take to secure for this country in the future a supply of home-grown timber by no means less, but if possible greater, than the supply now being destroyed?
§ Mr. ACLANDLarge quantities of blown timber have been purchased, or are the subject of negotiations for purchase, by the Home Grown Timber Committee. The Committee cannot undertake to deal with small or scattered lots of timber, but if any landowner has a considerable quantity of blown timber—say, 40,000 or 50,000 cubic feet—to dispose of, the Committee will be glad to hear from him. In reply to the second part of the question, any comprehensive scheme of afforestation must, in view of the shortage of labour, be deferred until after the War, though such work of preparation as is practicable before that time will be undertaken. In reply to the third part of the question, I beg leave to refer the hon. Member to my answer to the preceding question.
§ Sir F. BANBURYCan Members of Parliament sell their timber to the Government?
§ Mr. ACLANDThere are difficulties about that, but I think sometimes they can be got over.
§ Sir A. MARKHAMAre we to understand that the Government intend to introduce legislation in case any Member of Parliament is hauled up for selling timber? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a number of Members have been approached by the Government to sell timber, and that I am one of them?
§ Mr. ACLANDI know that direct sales are impossible.
§ Sir A. MARKHAMAre we to understand that the Government are going to wink at such sales?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe sale can sometimes be done through a third party.
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf legislation is involved the hon. Member should at least give notice of the question.