§ 11. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect the economic crisis, referred to in the 42nd Report of the Forestry Commissioners, has had on the Commission's programme for 1962–63.
Mr. VaneThe economies already effected by the Commission in minor works, in response to the Chancellor's drive for economy in Government Departments, will not affect the planting programme.
§ Mr. BoydenWill it affect the industrial staff? There was a reduction of 98 in the industrial staff and an increase of 10 in the non-industrial staff last year. Can the hon. Gentleman guarantee at least that the number of industrial staff will be maintained and, if possible, increased?
Mr. VaneThe number of industrial staff will, of course, depend upon the work there is for them to do. Since the Commission is continuing to expand its work, the assumption is that there will, as the years go by, be a need for a slowly increasing staff. I assure the hon. 15 Gentleman that there have been no dismissals in the labour force as a result of the minor economies to which I have referred. A few men who have retired have not been replaced.
§ Mr. BoydenWhy was there a reduction of nearly 100 in the industrial staff last year?
Mr. VaneThe demand for work varies somewhat from area to area according to the amount of planting there has to be done. As the hon. Gentleman knows from his constituency, where this work is important, work in forestry operations is not even throughout the whole life of a plantation. There is a great demand for labour in the preparation of the ground, the planting and the establishment of young plantations, and then there is a tendency for the demand to fall off until a later stage when the crop comes to be realised.
§ Mr. ManuelIs not the hon. Gentleman aware of the importance of the necessary thinnings programme which goes on at an increasing tempo in the Forestry Commission's work? Is he certain that the Commission is keeping abreast of the thinnings programme in order that the various forests will reach maturity in the proper way at the proper time?
Mr. VaneOne is, of course, aware of the increasing thinnings problem, which is, perhaps, the biggest problem which the Commission now faces. It is keeping very well up to date with it, but no forester is ever completely satisfied with his thinnings programme.