§ 29. Sir W. Anstruther-Grayasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his attention had been drawn to a shortage of softwood plants required by woodland owners for the current planting season ; and what action he proposes to meet this situation and to prevent it arising in following years.
Mr. AmoryYes, Sir. It is too early in the season to determine the extent of the shortage or to state precisely what plants the Commission can make available from their own nurseries. The Forestry Commission is doing all that is possible to help and last season, in addition to the normal surplus, released to private woodland owners several million plants by reducing their own planting programme. Additional sowings were also made by the Commission to provide more seedlings for lining out this season and next season by the nursery trade and private estates.
§ Sir W. Anstruther-GrayWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, may I ask whether he is satisfied that this shortage will be met next season?
Mr. AmoryThe Forestry Commission is doing what it can to plant more seedlings, and over the last few years it has been urging the nursery trades to expand their output.