§ 4 and 5. Mr. Worsleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what estimates the Forestry Commission has made of the total production of its forests in the years 1965, 1970, 1975, and 1980, respectively;
(2) what estimates the Forestry Commission has made of the total production of all woodlands in the United Kingdom in the years 1965, 1970, 1975, and 1980, respectively.
§ Mr. SoamesThe Commission make long-term estimates of production at five-yearly intervals. The last was made in 1955 for the years 1965 and 1975; the 1960 estimates, which are now being prepared and will take us up to 1980, will be made available as soon as possible. The 1955 estimate, which is, of course, subject to revision, for total production for all woodlands and hedgerows in Great Britain is 92 million hoppus feet for 1965 and 125 million for 1975. From the Commission's own forests the current estimate is 30 million hoppus feet in 1965 and 55 million in 1975.
§ Mr. WorsleyI thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. Does not he agree that these increases are very remarkable, and indicate that both sides of the industry are doing their best to increase production? Does not he also agree that the increases will create problems? Will he study these problems and, in particular, help the timber trade in any way he can to solve them?
§ Mr. SoamesI agree with my hon. Friend. These are satisfactory figures, which reflect great credit on the timber growers. We will have to be careful to ensure that there are proper outlets, in order to see that supply does not exceed demand. The Commission is constantly investigating new outlets, such as pulp mills and board mills, for homegrown timber, and I do not think that there is any reason to suppose that supply will exceed demand in the end.