12. Earl of Dalkeithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the cumulative acreage of woodlands in Scotland classified as unproductive scrubland; what proportion of this he estimates it would be in the national interest to clear and replant with timber-producing trees; and what conclusions he has reached as a result of his study of the reason for their not being so treated.
§ Dr. Dickson MabonThe area of unproductive scrubland in Scotland is estimated to be about 200,000 acres. Nearly half of this area is unsuitable for forestry, owing mainly to exposure and inaccessibility; and it would not necessarily be in the national interest to convert all the remainder to forestry because much of it provides useful shelter for stock
Earl of DalkeithIn the interests of wise land use, would the Minister of State do as much as he can to encourage the bringing into use of that part which could be turned into profitable forestry land and, if necessary, consider re-introducing the scrub clearance grant which, sadly, was abolished by the last Government?
§ Dr. MabonI much appreciate the noble Lord's comment about the last Government. We are still paying the grant under the 10-year scheme, which 1331 was introduced in 1963. The Government at that time thought that the worst of the wartime scrub had been dealt with. We are examining the matter again. I do not want to raise any false hopes. I think that we should look again at the latest returns, which will shortly be available, and see if we should do anything further in this regard.