§ 29. Mr. DONOVANasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether, in view of the denudation of Irish forests, he will take steps to give immediate legislative effect to the recommendations of the Committee on Irish Afforestation so as to secure, inter alia, Government aid for the planting and replanting of suitable trees at the proper season of the year; and if he will consider, in connection with the scheme for reafforestation, the advisability of acquiring compulsory powers to compel replanting in those forests and timber areas recently cleared owing to war exigencies?
§ The VICE-PRESIDENT of the DEPARTMENT of AGRICULTURE, IRELAND (Sir Thomas Russell)The whole question of afforestation in Great Britain and Ireland has recently been the subject of a Report (Cd.8881) issued by a Subcommittee of the Reconstruction Committee. The Report recommends the adoption of a wide and comprehensive scheme of reafforestation for the whole of the United Kingdom, and is at present under consideration by the Government. The steps to be taken to replant woodlands which have been denuded of timber to meet war requirements are dealt with in the Report.
§ Mr. FIELDMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether any steps will be taken to prevent the enormous felling of trees in Ireland at the present time?
§ Sir T. RUSSELLThe only power which the Department has in that matter is that on estates which have been purchased under the Land Purchase Acts the cutting down of timber can be stopped by the Department, and we do that in most cases. Where we allow it to be done, we insist upon two trees being planted for every one that is cut down.