§ Mr. Manderasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will consider issuing regulations authorising the cutting down of trees on private property in cases where the restriction of light involves unnecessary use of electricity or gas and where the owner refuses to act?
Major Lloyd GeorgeI do not think that regulations such as my hon. Friend suggests would produce a saving of fuel in any way commensurate with the difficulties which it would involve. Tree-felling and lopping, especially in urban areas, is a highly skilled job, and if undertaken by unskilled persons is liable to cause not only serious damage to house property, but also danger to life and limb. Here, as elsewhere, there is a great shortage of skilled labour; but I hope that wherever this sort of work is desirable in the interests of fuel-saving, it will if possible be carried out.