§ 24. Sir L. Ropnerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many Norway spruce the Forestry Commission will offer for sale for Christmas trees this year; how many of these trees will be smaller than 2 ft., between 2 ft. and 3 ft., between 3 ft. and 4 ft., and between 4 ft. and 5 ft., respectively; and how many will be complete trees and how many will be tops.
§ Mr. GodberThe answer to the first part of the Question is about 500,000 trees and tops. As the answer to the second part of the Question contains a number of figures, I will with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Sir L. RopnerCan my hon. Friend tell me what system of forestry entails the destruction of 500,000 young trees, or is it that the Forestry Commission is now entering the Christmas-tree market and is growing trees for that market?
§ Mr. GodberNo, Sir. It certainly is not the intention of the Forestry Commission to grow trees specifically for that 547 market. It has a certain number of surplus trees—thinnings—which it utilises in this way. I would not have thought there was anything very wrong about that.
§ Sir J. DuncanWhat prices is the Commission charging for these trees? Is it undercutting private growers?
§ Mr. GodberThat is a slightly different question from the one on the Order Paper. Perhaps my hon. Friend will put a Question down.
§ Mr. PeartIs not the Forestry Commission a good example of a State enterprise being very successful, and ought we not to encourage it?
§ Following is the information:
| NUMBER OF NORWAY SPRUCE TREES AND TOPS MADE AVAILABLE FOR SALE AS CHRISTMAS TREES BY THE FORESTRY COMMISSION IN THE AUTUMN OF 1959 | |||
| Size | Tops and Un-rooted Trees | Rooted Trees | Total |
| Under 1 ft. 6 in. | 50,000 | 25,000 | 75,000 |
| 1 ft. 6 in. to 2 ft. 9 in. | 185,000 | 35,000 | 220,000 |
| 3 ft. to 4 ft. 9 in. | 120,000 | 25,000 | 145,000 |
| 5 ft. or over | 60,000 | — | 60,000 |
| Total | 415,000 | 85,000 | 500,000 |
| NOTE:— | |||
| (i) The tree is measured from the tip to the lowest living branch. | |||
| (ii) Figures are not available for size ranges other than those given. |