asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what decline has taken place in the past year in the ordering of conifer seed for the forestry private sector.

Most of the conifer tree seed used by the private sector is supplied by the Forestry Commission. In the year ended 31st March 1974 the Commission supplied 1,730 kgs, in 1974–75 881 kgs and in the first 10 months of 1975–76 approximately 930 kgs. No estimate can be made of conifer seed obtained by the private sector from other sources.