§ 43. Mr. LIVINGSTONEasked the hon. Member for Monmouth, as repre- 2750 senting the Forestry Commissioners, whether his Department is investigating or, if not, whether it will investigate the possibilities of afforestation on peat lands in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland?
§ Sir LEOFIN FORESTIER-WALKER (Forestry Commissioner)The Forestry Commissioners are already planting in the Highlands on amenable peat areas. There is no line of research to which they attach more importance than the investigation of peat formations, and investigations on an extensive scale are being prosecuted both in the field and in the laboratory. With regard to the Islands of Scotland, the Commissioners are planting in Mull and are pursuing inquiries in Skye. Whilst the peat problem exists on the Islands as well as in the Highlands, there are additional difficulties to planting schemes in view of extreme exposure and the allocation of land amongst Crofters.
§ Mr. LIVINGSTONEWill my hon. Friend do me the favour of making investigations in the Outer Hebrides?
§ Sir L. FORESTIER-WALKERWe are, as a matter of fact, making investigations now, but, as the hon. Gentleman will understand, we are anxious to deal first with those lands which are nearest markets and most suitable for planting.
§ Mr. J. HUDSONAre these inquiries into the possible use of peat lands, confined to Scotland or are the peat lands in the Pennines also included in the inquiry?
§ Sir L. FORESTIER-WALKERThe investigations are intended to deal with peat lands generally in England, Scotland and Wales.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINHow many acres have already been planted?
§ Sir L. FORESTIER-WALKERThat question was asked on Thursday last.