Windblown Timber (Hansard, 6 March 1968)

§ 1. Mr. Brewis
asked the Secretary of of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the amount of windblown timber this winter.

§ The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Norman Buchan)
The latest estimate is 40 million hoppus feet, of which 22 million are in Forestry Commission woodlands and 18 million in private woodlands.

§ Mr. Brewis
Are there not many saw mills outwith the affected area which could process this timber if transport could be made more economic? When will the Secretary of State announce a 410 transport subsidy, as was given by the last Government in 1953?

§ Mr. Buchan
That point is among the questions which will be considered. We have now received the report of the Action Group, and all aspects of it will be discussed.

§ Mr. Stodart
Have there been any tangible results? Can the hon. Gentleman tell us anything of the outcome of the Action Group's meeting about a fortnight ago?

§ Mr. Buchan
We are expecting recommendations from the Forestry Commission on the report almost at once, and we shall be looking at all aspects as soon as they arrive.

§ 36. Mr. Clark Hutchison
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, bearing in mind the recent storm damage and also the need to improve the trade balance, he will send a circular to all authorities charged with the building of houses, hospitals and other public buildings to use Scottish timber where possible.

§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. William Ross)
Those concerned in the public services are well aware that timber, like other materials, should be specified by reference to quality, so that there is no discrimination against home-grown timber. But when I receive the advice of the Forestry Commission on the recent report of the Windblow Action Group I will consider whether a circular should be issued.

§ Mr. Clark Hutchison
I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman. I think that is a good proposal. Would he also contact the railways and the Coal Board and other bodies like that to see if they can assist over this blown timber?

§ Mr. Ross
I think the hon. Gentleman will appreciate that the Action Group and those who are in the business of marketing timber are concerned about this, and we will see that as wide publicity as possible is given to their findings.

§ Mr. Stodart
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture has declined to draw the attention of the National Coal Board to the possibility of using more home-grown 411 timber available because of the storm blow? Will he promise to do better than that?

§ Mr. Ross
We will certainly make known to everyone how much timber is available, and leave it to their good sense to take the necessary action. I think we want to work this out scientifically, rather than just pressing people to declare their interest.