§ 7. Mr. Manuelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated tonnage and price which will be secured from thinnings from Government-owned afforestation schemes for the years, 1962, 1963 and 1964.
§ Mr. LeburnThe Forestry Commission estimates that the total production of thinnings from its forests in the three years 1962 to 1964 will be about 60 million cubic feet. With permission, I shall circulate the detailed estimates in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
It is not possible to estimate closely what prices will be obtained in future, but in 1961 the Commission received £950,000 for 12½ million cubic feet of timber sold standing, which consisted mainly of thinnings.
§ Mr. ManuelWhile I am grateful for the information which the hon. Gentleman has given us, may I ask whether he can tell the House what losses, if any, there are in inaccessible areas where there is difficulty in getting thinnings out of the forests, where there are transport difficulties, particularly in the north of Scotland, and difficulty in selling the thinnings?
§ Mr. LeburnI think that the hon. Member will realise that the main object of thinnings is to improve the final crop 442 but, in reply to his specific question, occasionally there are thinnings which cannot be got out of the wood.. Even if they were got out they would not be sold because to try to sell them is uneconomical, but the quantity is not substantial.
§ Mr. BrewisDoes my hon. Friend agree that the new factory at Fort William will be a great step forward in dealing with these thinnings but that far more outlets are needed for them, particularly in south-west Scotland?
§ Mr. LeburnI agree with my hon. Friend. At the same time, I am sure that he will realise that there are occasions when it is not economic to bring thinnings out of the wood.
§ Mr. ManuelThe hon. Gentleman said that these thinnings were possibly not an economic proposition because the main purpose was to bring the trees to maturity. Will not the hon. Gentleman recognise that as the forests get older the thinnings become more valuable and that is a continuing process over three-year periods? Will he not agree, therefore, that a great deal of efficiency must be lost through thinnings not being sold in the more inaccessible areas?
§ Mr. LeburnI do not agree. The point is that as the timber gets larger it will be possible to find a market for it.
§ Following are the details of the total of 60 million cubic feet referred to in the reply:
| ESTIMATED PRODUCTION OF THINNINGS FROM FORESTRY COMMISSION FORESTS IN MILLIONS OF CUBIC FEET (HOPPUS MEASURE) | |||||
| — | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | Total 1962–1964 | |
| England | … | 7.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 23.0 |
| Scotland | … | 7.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 22.0 |
| Wales | … | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 14.0 |
| Great Britain | … | 18.0 | 20.0 | 21.0 | 59.0 |