HC Deb 19 October 1950 vol 478 cc2226-8
49. Mr. Hard

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that landowners in Berkshire and elsewhere who have mature timber fit for felling this winter, are being refused felling licences by the Forestry Commission, the reason stated being that the felling quota for the current period has been exceeded; and, if he will arrange for more discretion to be allowed in giving felling licences where timber, both soft wood and hard wood, is obviously mature and the time has come for felling and replanting.

Mr. G. Brown

My right hon. Friend is aware that applications for felling licences have sometimes to be refused. The quota is imposed because of the overriding national need to conserve timber resources. I therefore regret that greater discretion in the granting of felling licences cannot be allowed.

Mr. Hurd

Yes, but does not the hon. Gentleman realise that this makes nonsense of the policy he is trying to put across to landowners, to treat their woods as a crop, fell them and re-plant in rotation? In this particular case the landowner is being refused the opportunity to do that.

Mr. Brown

I know the case the hon. Gentleman has in mind, but I do not think it bears the interpretation he has put on it. It does not make nonsense. The general policy is to have a plan to preserve standing timber. The policy we are following sets out to achieve just that.

Mr. Assheton

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that if timber is standing and going back it is not being preserved, but if it is cut down when mature it is being preserved?

Mr. Brown

I think that is obvious enough for us all to get the point, but in this case it is not so.

Major Sir Thomas Dugdale

But could not the hon. Gentleman look at it again? Surely the point should be that when timber becomes mature there should be no quota to stand in the way of cutting it down when it is at its best for market?

Mr. Brown

Yes, but timber is not like other crops; it does not deteriorate. There is a period during which it is possible to reduce the rate of issue of felling licences and the actual felling. That is all we are doing.