§ 11.12 a.m.
§ Baroness SHARPLESMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the spread of beech bark disease is likely to cover the whole country as has happened with Dutch elm disease.
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, beech bark disease has been known in Britain and Europe for well over a century. The agents involved are not as virulent as those causing the present epidemic of Dutch elm disease and serious losses from beech bark disease are likely to remain local rather than general.
§ Baroness SHARPLESMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that Answer, but is he aware that, since putting down the Question, many people have come to me to say that, in different parts of the country, this is indeed a very serious problem? How much research is going into the development of strains of hard-wood which will be resistant to diseases such as this?
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, research work is proceeding on the biology of the causal organisms and on factors affecting the severity of the disease with a view to the development of improved control measures. I regret to say that this is an 1597 endemic disease in this country. There is quite an interesting booklet on beech bark disease which has been produced by the Forestry Commission and which I shall put in your Lordships' Library.
§ The LORD BISHOP of LONDONMy Lords, has the noble Lord any information about the disease afflicting sycamore trees, which it is said could be as devastating as is the Dutch elm disease?
§ Lord STRABOLGINo, my Lords, I regret that that is a different Question.
§ Lord SANDYSMy Lords, do the Government recognise that this disease also has important fiscal implications? Do they realise that the disease renders the timber valueless on felling? Will therefore payments made under capital transfer tax be repaid to the owners thereof?
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, the Government have of course recognised the widespread concern expressed by private forestry interests about the influence of taxation on private planting, and they have recently set up an inter-departmental review group to consider the whole question of how private forestry is affected by Government policies on taxation grants and amenities.
§ Lord BARNBYMy Lords, can the noble Lord give any indication as to whether any progress is occurring in connection with the elm disease which is more serious than the beech bark disease? Does he agree that the Community Service should be alerted to the possibilities for service in assisting or in executing the cutting down of dead trees and the distribution of the wood to the needy during the winter?
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, I am sure that my right honourable friend will take note of the very useful suggestion of my noble friend, if I may call him that. With regard to the question of control, in woodland the removal of affected trees during normal silvicultural thinning operations is recommended, and sanitation felling may be undertaken in seriously diseased strains.
§ Baroness SHARPLESMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that when there is a fairly large plantation, and this is really widespread, it is completely impractical to take the action suggested unless there is some financial assistance?
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, that is a point which I will pass on to my right honourable friend.
§ Lord SANDYSMy Lords will the Government give some degree of urgency to this matter, because as the noble Lord will be aware, Dutch elm disease ravaged approximately two-thirds of the United Kingdom, Scotland excluded, and they were unable to assist in the problem?
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, I think that this disease cannot be compared with Dutch elm disease. As I said, it is endemic. It is widely scattered over the country. Recent major outbreaks have occurred mainly on the chalk downlands of Southern England, but it Joes not spread as quickly as Dutch elm disease. However, I agree that there are no grounds for complacency, but we have had this disease for 100 years, I regret.
§ Lord DAVIES of LEEKMy Lords, may I, finally, from this side of the House put forward the plea for the Government to look deeply—
§ Lord DAVIES of LEEKI have already said, "May I". What is the matter with this House? As an interspersion I should say that it is rather nice that we finish in difficult times, like this, this morning. May I ask my noble friend whether he will press upon the Government the need to look in depth into the problem of our national forestry, which is one of our great assets? Certainly, whatever Government are in power, this matter should now be given a priority because of the devastation involved.
§ Lord STRABOLGIYes, my Lords; I agree with my noble friend. As I said with regard to the review group, the Government expect that the findings of this group will be available by the end of the year, and I think that it would be premature to offer any comments before then.