§ 44. Colonel ROPNERasked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether he has any statistics showing the extent to which mature timber is still being cut down for sale in this country; and whether he is satisfied that re-afforestation 2847 is being carried on to a sufficient extent, both in respect of the numbers and types of trees, to make good these losses?
§ Sir G. COURTHOPEThere are no statistics of annual fellings of mature timber, but it has been estimated from the Censuses of Production made in 1924 and 1930 that the quantity felled annually is of the order of 25,000,000 cubic feet. The total area afforested and replanted every year should more than maintain that out-turn, but it is very doubtful whether the current plantings of broadleaved trees will enable the fellings of hardwood timber to be maintained indefinitely. As to the general position, may I refer the hon. and gallant Member to pages 14–19 of the Commissioners' recently published 15th Annual Report.