§ 8. Sir L. Ropnerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of the 60,000 Norway spruce under the age of 15 years sold by the Forestry Commission during the last six months of 1956 were more than five years old.
§ Sir L. RopnerCan my right hon. Friend tell me how many of those trees were sold as Christmas trees and how those which were sold as Christmas trees were marketed, either through wholesalers or direct? What system of planting necessitated the destruction of Norway spruce between the ages of five and 15 years?
Mr. AmoryAll these young trees were sold as Christmas trees, but the very large majority of the Christmas trees sold by the Forestry Commission are the tops of thinnings which otherwise would be valueless. As to the method of marketing, I will look into that in detail and write to my hon. and gallant Friend. 568 I understand that the Forestry Commission is careful to see that its sales do not amount to an unfair proportion of the total sales. If they were to do so, that might be unfair to private woodland owners.
§ Sir L. RopnerIs my right hon. Friend aware that the trees referred to in this Question have nothing to do with the tops of thinnings? Can he say whether there is a further large number of tops from thinnings with which the market is flooded just prior to Christmas?
Mr. AmoryA considerable number of tops from thinnings are sold as Christmas trees by the Forestry Commission, but that is not a number which, I am advised, could be said in any way to amount to a flooding of the market. I shall let my hon. and gallant Friend have such figures as are available.
§ Mr. ChetwyndIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that outrageous profits are made on the sale of Christmas trees? Is it not a good thing to encourage the Forestry Commission to make these sales?
Mr. AmoryI do not know whether outrageous profits are made, but if so, I certainly do not think that they are made by the Forestry Commission. In general I agree that if outrageous profits are made, the more competition there is the better.
Mr. VaneWould my right hon. Friend tell the hon. Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) that any grower will sell him Christmas trees for 1s. a foot and that if he is paying much more he is buying the tree from the wrong place?
Mr. AmoryNo doubt my hon. Friend the Member for Westmorland (Mr. Vane) will advise the hon. Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) to buy early for next Christmas.