John Spellar MP calls for British tree supplies national tree planting programme
Warley MP John Spellar is calling on the government to back the British horticultural industry when it comes to supplying trees.
He said there had been no mention of where saplings are coming from for the national tree planting programme.
During a Commons debate, Mr Spellar said it was important to back British trees not only due to the impact on employment, but also importation and issues with pests and diseases.
He asked Environment Minister Rebecca Pow: "In other words will they be sourced within the UK or will we be importing them?"
Mr Spellar said the Government should ‘look long-term and give long-term contracts to the horticultural industry so that they can rapidly ramp up the production of seedlings’ to benefit the British economy but ‘also as a health and safety measure’.
He said: "Thank you Mr Speaker. The minister has talked about planting trees, but no mention of where these trees are coming from. In other words, will they be sourced within the UK or will we be importing them?
"Not only because of the impact on employment, but also importation - as we have seen previously - of pests and diseases. Will she therefore look long-term and give long-term contracts to the horticultural industry so that they can rapidly ramp up the production of seedlings in order that we can benefit the British economy, but also as a health and safety measure?
Ms Pow replied: "I'll forgive the Rt Hon member for going on because actually it is brilliant to mention horticulture. Horticulture is such an important part of this country and we're in discussions with nurseries because you're absolutely right - they have got to provide these trees.
"We'd like as many as possible obviously to come from the UK because that is very important - particularly on bio-security grounds. So I see a great new future for those nurseries and we're in discussions with the industry."
