HC Deb 16 January 1945 vol 407 cc38-41W
Mr. Ness Edwards

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, if the schedule of prices agreed upon between the Commissioners and the trade association for the surplus stocks of the Commission and the price to be charged to the public can be published; and if such schedules can be printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Sir G. Courthope

The following schedule of minimum wholesale and retail prices for 1944–45 was issued by the Horticultural Trades Association and the Scottish Seed and Nursery Trade Association to their members and submitted to the Forestry Commission in October, 1944. The wholesale prices were accepted by the Commission for sales of surplus stock to trade members. At a subsequent date it was agreed by the Commission and representatives of the trade that a list of surplus stocks of the Commission available at the agreed wholesale prices should be published and should be retailed at 50 per cent. above the wholesale prices but subject to a maximum increase of £2 per 1,000. The list of prices of the Commission's surplus stocks has now been issued to the Press.

HORTICULTURAL TRADES ASSOCIATION.
Scottish Seed and Nursery Trade Association.
Forest Tree Section.
Minimum Prices 1944/45.
Wholesale. Retail.
s. d. s. d.
Ash Common … … 1 year Seedling … 15 0 per 1,000 22 6 per 1,000
2 year Seedling … 30 0 per 1,000 45 0 per 1,000
9–18 in. Transplanted … 60 0 per 1,000 90 0 per 1,000
18–24 in. Transplanted … 85 0 per 1,000 125 0 per 1,000
2–3 ft. Transplanted … 100 0 per 1,000 140 0 per 1,000
Beech Common … … 1 year Seedling … 25 0 per 1,000 37 6 per 1,000
2 year Seedling … 40 0 per 1,000 60 0 per 1,000
12–18 in. Transplanted … 120 0 per 1,000 160 0 per 1,000
18–24 in. Transplanted … 160 0 per 1,000 200 0 per 1,000
2–3 ft. Transplanted … 25 0 Per 100 37 6 per 100
3–4 ft. (quartered) … 50 0 per 1,00 75 0 per 1,00
Douglas Fir … … 2 year Seedling … 40 0 per 1,000 60 0 per 1,000
12–18 in. Transplanted … 85 0 per 1,000 125 0 per 1,000
Larch European … … 1 year Seedling … 30 0 per 1,000 45 0 per 1,000
2 year Seedling … 50 0 per 1,000 75 0 per 1,000
9–15 in. Transplanted … 70 0 per 1,000 105 0 per 1,000
12–18 in. Transplanted … 90 0 per 1,000 130 0 per 1,000
18–24 in. Transplanted … 120 0 per 1,000 160 0 per 1,000
Larch Japanese … … 1 year Seedling … 30 0 per 1,000 45 0 per 1,000
2 year Seedling … 50 0 per 1,000 75 0 per 1,000
9–15 in. Transplanted … 70 0 per 1,000 105 0 per 1,000
12–18 in. Transplanted … 90 0 per 1,000 130 0 per 1,000
18–24 in. Transplanted … 120 0 per 1,000 160 0 per 1,000
2–3 ft. Transplanted … 140 0 per 1,000 180 0 per 1,000
Hybrid Larch … … 1 year Seedling … 30 0 per 1,000 45 0 per 1,000
2 year Seedling … 50 0 per 1,000 75 0 per 1,000
9–15 in. Transplanted … 70 0 per 1,000 105 0 per 1,000
12–18 in. … 90 0 per 1,000 130 0 per 1,000
18–24 in. Transplanted … 120 0 per 1,000 160 0 per 1,000
2–3 ft. Transplanted … 140 0 per 1,000 180 0 per 1,000
Norway Spruce … … 2 year Seedling … 30 0 per 1,000 45 0 per 1,000
6–12 in. Transplanted … 65 0 per 1,000 97 0 per 1,000
8–15 in. Transplanted … 70 0 per 1,000 105 0 per 1,000
10–18 in. Transplanted … 75 0 per 1,000 112 6 per 1,000
15–24 in. Transplanted … 90 0 per 1,000 130 0 per 1,000
Scots Pine … … 1 year Seedling … 12 6 per 1,000 19 0 per 1,000
2 year Seedling … 17 6 per 1,000 19 0 per 1,000
2 year 1 year Transplanted 40 0 per 1,000 60 0 per 1,000
9–15 in. Transplanted … 70 0 per 1,000 105 0 per 1,000
Sitka Spruce … … 2 year and 3 year Seedling 35 0 per 1,000 52 6 per 1,000
8–5 in. Transplanted … 75 0 per 1,000 112 6 per 1,000
12–18 in. Transplanted … 90 0 per 1,000 130 0 per 1,000
18–24 in. Transplanted … 100 0 per 1,000 140 0 per 1,000
Sycamore … … 1 year Seedling … 20 0 per 1,000 30 0 per 1,000
12–18 in. Transplanted … 60 0 per 1,000 90 0 per 1,000
18–24 in. Transplanted … 85 0 per 1,000 125 0 per 1,000
Oak … … 1 year Seedling … 30 0 per 1,000 45 0 per 1,000
2 year Seedling … 45 0 per 1,000 67 0 per 1,000
9–55 in. Transplanted … 80 0 per 1,000 120 0 per 1,000
12–18 in. Transplanted … 100 0 per 1,000 140 0 per 1,000
18–24 in. Transplanted … 140 0 per 1,000 180 0 per 1,000
Thorn Quicks … … 1 year Seedlings … 45 0 per 1,000
12…18 in. Transplanted … 200 0

Mr. Ness Edwards

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what are this season's expected surplus stocks.

Sir G. Courthope

It was estimated at the beginning of the season that the surpluses available for disposal would amount to approximately 29,000,000 seedlings and 13,000,000 transplants. Compared with the normal requirements of the Commissioners these figures are not large. If planting in the season 1944–45 had returned to the pre-war scale, as was anticipated when arrangements were made to produce the stocks of which these plants are part, there would in fact have been shortages instead of surpluses.

Mr. Ness Edwards

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, if, in view of the official denial by the Horticultural Trades Association that the prices charged by firms for surplus Forestry Commission plants were as a result of pressure by that association, he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT proof that the association was responsible for enforcing such prices.

Sir G. Courthope

The Horticultural Trades Association is an independent body and the Forestry Commissioners are not in a position to prove or disprove their methods of conducting business. It may be relevant to the Question, however, to point out that the list of prices circulated in the answer to the hon. Member's first Question is for minimum prices to be charged by members of the Horticultural Trades Association and the Scottish Seed and Nursery Trade Association.

Mr. Daggar

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, the wholesale and retail prices agreed upon at the meeting of the Forestry Commission and the trade association on 19th December, 1944.

Sir G. Courthope

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to-day to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Ness Edwards).