§ MR. J. H. LEWIS (Flint Burghs)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury what is the area of waste land of which the Commissioners of Woods and Forests own the freehold available for planting trees?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY,) PrestonThere are waste lands of which the Commissioners of Woods own the freehold extending to about 2,500 acres in England, 84,000 acres in Wales, 229 acres in Scotland, and 425 acres in Ireland. These wastes are all subject to commonable rights, and could not be planted unless some arrangement were made with the commoners, for which statutory powers might possibly be required. It is impossible to give any figures, but if such an arrangement with the commoners were practicable some portions of the area might be available for planting; but as regards Wales, the greater portion is so inaccessible that even if trees would grow it is exceedingly doubtful whether plantations could be profitably made.