§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated elm population of Scotland; of these, approximately what percentage are wych elms; and which varieties of elm in Scotland are most susceptible to catching Dutch elm disease.
§ Mr. Hugh D. BrownAlthough the Forestry Commission has not carried out418W a full statistical survey of elms in Scotland, it has estimated that the population, before the aggressive strain of the disease struck, was between 2 million and 3 million trees. All elms are susceptible to the disease, but wych elm, which is the predominant variety in Scotland, has a greater resistance.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many diseased elm trees have been discovered with elm disease (a) in each conservatory in Scotland, and (b) in each region in Scotland; and what percentage of the total stock in each category have been reported as diseased, dying or dead.
§ Mr. Hugh D. BrownStatistics of elms affected by the disease are not available in the form requested. However, many local authorities in each region are maintaining records of diseased and felled trees, in connection with their general responsibility under the Dutch Elm Disease (Local Authorities) Order 1977.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any information that has been the experience of other countries with Dutch elm disease, that where newly diseased elms are felled rapidly, the scope of the disease can be restricted substantially.
§ Mr. Hugh D. BrownExperience in the United States of America and elsewhere shows that the prompt felling of diseased elms can help to slow down the progress of the epidemic but not to eradicate it.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland by what percentage the elm population in Scotland has decreased for each year, since the discovery of Dutch elm disease.
§ Mr. Hugh D. BrownIn 1976 the Forestry Commission estimated that 500 trees were affected. By the end of 1977 this figure had risen to several thousands, representing about 0.3 per cent. of the original population.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of trees (a) in Edinburgh and (b) in the Lothian region is elms; and what percentage of these trees has been affected by Dutch elm disease.
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§ Mr. Hugh D. BrownInformation in this detail is not available centrally, but the local authorities concerned would have appropriate records and estimates.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to give felling grants to (a) owners of elms, which have contracted Dutch elm disease; and (b) to local authorities; and what action the Government are taking to ensure that the elms which have been killed by Dutch elm disease and which are a potential danger to persons or livestock walking underneath or nearby are felled.
§ Mr. Hugh D. BrownIt has been the view of successive Governments that a general grant for felling diseased elms would be a prohibitively costly burden on the Exchequer and that the responsibility for felling diseased elms, as with other diseased trees, must accordingly remain with the owners. My right hon. Friend has no plans to alter the policy. Some local authorities have, however, been able to offer limited financial help and this year the Manpower Services Commission, with additional finance from the Scottish Development Agency, is prepared to consider schemes of assistance. Action to ensure the felling of dangerous trees will follow normal practice under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1970.