§ 73. Mr. RILEYasked the hon. Member for Monmouth, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, the total acreage of land afforested under the auspices of the Forestry Commissioners in Great Britain since 1919; the number of forest holdings actually created and occupied; and the number of men at present engaged in the work of afforestation?
§ Sir LEOLIN FORESTIER-WALKER (Forestry Commissioner)The area planted by the Forestry Commissioners to the end of the 1925–26 planting season was 71,000 acres; to February the area was 81,000 acres, and by the end of the current season should be 93,000 acres; the number of forest workers' holdings created and occupied in 243; 159 additional holdings are in progress; the number of persons employed by the Commissioners in February in the work of afforestation was 2,952.
§ Mr. RILEYIs it not a fact that the Acland Committee calculated that five holdings should be established for each thousand acres afforested, and in view of that fact, what is the explanation that there are only 200 families with 80,000 acres, when it should be something like 800 families?
§ Sir L. FORESTIER-WALKERIf the hon. Member makes the calculation 80,000 acres at five per 1,000 acres, we have 243 holdings occupied, and another 159 in progress.
§ Mr. RILEYIs it not a fact that the number stated by the Acland Committee was not one family per 1,000 acres, but five families per 1,000 acres?
§ Sir L. FORESTIER-WALKERFive holdings.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSWill the hon. Gentleman tell us the average acreage allowed for each one of these small holdings that has been created?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member should give notice of that question.