§ 62. Colonel Clarkeasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the omission in the recent pamphlet on Dedication of Woodlands of reference to the scale on which it is intended to provide advisory services to a woodland owner who dedicates; and when he expects that any such service will become available.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsExperienced full-time officers are available in each conservancy to advise owners of private woodlands, and this service is free. More advisory officers will be recruited as the demand for advice from private woodland owners increases.
§ Colonel ClarkeDoes the Minister realise that the failure to put that information in the pamphlet which was recently published has rather discouraged people from further considering dedicating their woodlands? The idea of an advisory service is one of the most attractive parts of the scheme.
§ Mr. WilliamsI hope that the answer I have given will remove any doubt or misapprehension, because the Forestry Commission are very anxious to help private woodland owners who wish to enter a dedication scheme.
§ 63. Colonel Clarkeasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the omission in the recent pamphlet on Dedication of Woodlands of reference to the position of a woodland owner who manages his woods satisfactorily and yet prefers not to dedicate; and whether he will ensure that this possible choice is made clear in future editions of this pamphlet in accordance with the assurances which he has given.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsThe pamphlet has been published for the guidance of owners who may wish to dedicate their woods, and is not intended to cover other circumstances. While I hope that most owners will take advantage of the benefits offered by the scheme, I have no power to compel participation. The alternative to improper management is, of course, State acquisition.