§ Mr. Ridleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is currently the average age at which, respectively, hardwood and softwood timber crops reach maturity in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. StrangThe age of maturity for the production of timber crops varies according to management objectives, site conditions and species. With this reservation the crop rotation giving the maximum yield of timber for conifers is of the order of 60 years. The corresponding figure for hardwoods is of the order of 100 years.