HC Deb 05 September 1895 vol 36 cc1744-5
MR. HERBERT ROBERTS (Denbighshire)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, whether his attention has been called to the pledges given by the late Government last year as to the future policy of the Woods and Forests Department with reference to the development of Crown lands in Wales; whether the Commissioner of Woods and Forests has since that time visited various districts in Wales and made inquiries as to the possibilities of developing the lands in question by afforestation and in other ways; whether he will state what works have already been carried out or are contemplated by the Commissioner in Wales; whether large tracts of Crown wastes in the county of Denbigh have been found admirably adapted for plantations; and, whether, in view of the large annual income drawn by the Woods and Forests from Wales, he can give an assurance as to a further expenditure of money upon the development of Crown property in Wales in the interests of the Principality?

THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY,) Preston

The pledge of the late Government was that careful personal inquiry should be made with a view to seeing what could properly be done towards developing the Crown lands in Wales. The Commissioner of Woods visited certain Crown wastes in Denbighshire last October and in Merionethshire last June. He intends to pay further visits to the Crown wastes. No works have been carried out except the making of a small plantation and addition to the buildings on a Crown farm in Merionethshire, and additions and repairs to various small farms in Carnarvonshire. There are portions of the Crown wastes in Denbighshire where planting would probably succeed, but the common rights existing over these wastes are a difficulty. It is the Commissioner's duty to see that a reasonable return is obtained on the money expended out of the Land Revenues of the Crown, and so he must take into consideration the question of a future market for the timber, and also the roads and facilities of transit. The annual income drawn from Wales consists largely of Rents and Royalties from Mines, and there is no need for expenditure by the Crown in the development of its mineral property.