§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration has been given to the storage of existing quantities of dead elm wood as a future source of energy and warmth.
§ Mr. StrangA great deal of consideration has been given to the properties and uses of elm as a timber but not to its use as a fuel, for which wood has a relatively low value. However, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has recently received a report from the Tree Council which contains the suggestion that poorer quality elm could be used as a fuel for social welfare. This might be feasible on a small scale, but the transportation and storage of elm for fuel on any large scale could be disproportionately expensive. The report is now being studied.