asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now discontinue felling licences for hedgerow timber.

No, Sir. The right of the Forestry Commission to refuse a felling licence in the interests of good forestry, agriculture or local amenities is in the best interests of the countryside.

Does this mean that the Government attach undiminished importance to a national reserve of standing timber?

I do not see how that arises out of the Question, but, as I have said, I think that if we want to preserve the amenities of the countryside it is right to keep this function intact.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number of applications for felling licences received by the Forestry Commission during the last year, to the latest convenient date, and the number of staff required to deal with them.

During the Forest Year ending 30th September, 1958, the Forestry Commission received in England and Wales 5,624 applications for felling licences. The equivalent of 40 staff were employed on this work.