HL Deb 25 May 1976 vol 371 cc255-6WA
Baroness ROBSON of KIDDINGTON

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What would be the saving on the importation of wood over a period of five years if an acceptable means of storing elm timber could be found.

The PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY of STATE, DEPARTMENT of INDUSTRY (Lord Melchett)

An acceptable method of storing elm timber for long periods, as sawn boards, does exist. However, this method is unacceptably expensive except for only a relatively small volume of the highest quality timber. Imports of elm wood are negligible and are for the most part intended for specialist purposes for which domestic elm timber is not suitable.

The current United Kingdom market for elm is running at some 400,000 cubic metres a year, as compared with a total available and commercially utilisable average annual volume of some 500,000 cubic metres. This leaves a maximum of 100,000 cubic metres which could be set against an annual import volume of wood and wood products of 30 million cubic metres (1975 figures). Thus the annual availability of elm to be offset against imports would be around one-third of one per cent. in terms of volume, an overall rate of import saving which is not considered to be significant. However, the Elm Marketing Group is of course doing all it can to expand the market for elm and will have the possibility of substitution well in mind.