§ 26. Sir John Gilmourasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial aid can be given from public funds to owners of elm trees which have died from disease and where the cost of removing them is considerably higher than commercial value of the tree.
§ Mr. Hugh D. BrownThe responsibility for felling trees which are dead or dying from any reason is the responsibility of the owner. The Dutch Elm Disease (Local Authorities) Order 1977 gives Scottish regional authorities powers to serve notices on owners requiring them to fell and destroy diseased elms at their own expense. The authorities also have powers to remove sources of infection without cost to the owners; the choice of action, however, is at the discretion of the authorities.