Forestry

HC Deb 21 March 1960 vol 620 cc3-4

6. Mr. Boyden

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what acreage was planted with trees by the Forestry Commission in 1959.

Mr. Godber

In the forest year ending 30th September, 1959, the Forestry Commission planted 55,136 acres in Great Britain.

Mr. Boyden

Is this not well below the average which the Forestry Commission set itself for the next five years? Is the Minister not aware that this country imports about £200 million worth of timber a year? Is it not time the planting acreage was speeded up? Is the Commission short of money, labour or land?

Mr. Godber

I would not accept that this is below average. I think the figure Stated was 300,000 acres in a total of five years. It was not expected that this would be a uniform rate over the period. The idea was that there would be a rise from the initial figure. I should have thought that the 55,000 acres planted last year was a very satisfactory figure.

Sir J. Duncan

I wonder whether my hon. Friend will also give the figures for private enterprise forestry and state whether private enterprise forestry in total vastly exceeds Forestry Commission planting?

Mr. Godber

Yes, if my hon. Friend would like to put down a Question I should be glad to give him the figures. I am sorry that I have not got them available now, but I would agree with him that the figures are considerably larger.

Mr. Boyden

What is the target for next year?

Mr. Godber

If the hon. Member will put down a Question I shall be glad to answer.

7. Mr. Boyden

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many Forestry Commission houses were modernised in 1959; how many remain to be modernised; how many new houses were built in 1959; and how many new houses are needed.

Mr. Godber

In the year ending 30th September, 1959, the Forestry Commission modernised 162 houses and completed the building of 32 new houses in Great Britain. There are about 1,300 workers' houses which still need some modernising. In the next five years the Commission plan to build about 200 new houses, mainly for supervisors and key workers.

Mr. Boyden

Has the Forestry Commission a programme for modernising these houses? Can it set a definite date when it will have all of them modernised?

Mr. Godber

It certainly has a programme and hopes that all the workers' houses which are capable of modernisation will have been modernised within five or six years, but I would point out to the hon. Member that many of these houses are in somewhat isolated places and that it is not as easy to deal with them as it is to deal with many other properties.

Sir J. Duncan

When are we to have the Forestry Commission's Report for 1959, bearing in mind how very late it was in respect of 1958?

Mr. Godber

I will take note of my hon. Friend's comment. I should like to look into it.