§ Sir B. Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is now the condition of the elms in Kensington Gardens; and if he will make a statement as to his policy in regard to the trees therein.
§ Mr. John Silkin136 elm trees have been felled in Kensington Gardens in the last three years as a result of Dutch elm disease and about 50 more have some degree of infection. There are still well over 300 elms which as yet show no signs of the disease, about 80 of these being young trees planted in the last 10 years. It is not the policy to plant new36W elms at present but 428 trees of different species have been planted in Kensington Gardens in the past three years.