HC Deb 13 March 1956 vol 550 c201
18. Commander Donaldson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the plans of the Forestry Commission for new planting development in the counties of Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles.

The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Niall Macpherson)

In the counties of Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles the plantable area which is now held or shortly will be held by the Forestry Commission is nearly 9,000 acres, and it is hoped that about 4,800 acres of this will be planted or re-planted during the next three years. Negotiations are in hand for a further 1,700 acres.

Commander Donaldson

While thanking my hon. Friend for his answer and welcoming the additions which he has announced, may I ask if he will give me an idea of the additional employment that it will provide in the way of foresters for the area?

Mr. Macpherson

In accordance with the Report on Post-War Forest Policy, the rough figure that is still used of the amount of employment over a continuous period is one man to each 100 acres on actual forest work.