Elms

HC Deb 10 February 1982 vol 17 cc404-5W

Mr. Cormack

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many elm trees have been lost as a result of Dutch elm disease; and what percentage this represents of the total number of the elms estimated to be growing in Great Britain in 1970.

Mrs. Fenner

In 1970 there were about 30 million elms in Great Britain of which it is estimated that some 20 million, or 66 per cent., have been lost because of Dutch elm disease.