HC Deb 18 May 1978 vol 950 cc750-2
1. Mr. Monro

asked the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food what is the total acreage of land under silviculture in the United Kingdom.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Gavin Strang)

The total area of woodland in the United Kingdom is estimated at just over 5 million acres.

Mr. Monro

Is the Minister aware that that is a small percentage in comparison with that of most European countries and that it is serious when regarded in the light of our known requirements in the future? What further encouragement can the Minister give to private woodland owners to plant small parcels of scrub and derelict land with trees, so as not to use up more good agricultural land for forestry?

Mr. Strang

With particular respect to the hon. Member's concern about small areas of derelict land, I think that he will welcome the Government's introduction of the small woods scheme. Further, the increased rates of grant which came into operation last October should lead to some increase in private planting.

Mr. Fairgrieve

Does the Minister appreciate that compared with countries of similar population and development, such as France and Germany, we have less than one-third of what they have in forestry? With a timber import bill now of over £2,000 million, surely something drastic must be done in relation to our forestry.

Mr. Strang

Certainly we should like to see an increased acreage of forestry, but I think that the hon. Member will surely recognise that we have some very substantial areas of productive agricultural land which it would be quite inappropriate to plant with trees.

Mr. Hardy

Will my hon. Friend confirm that the present Government are not pursuing the policy that was established by the Conservative Government in 1972, which assumed that there was no economic future in forestry? Does he agree that the long-term interests of this country suggest that silviculture should be encouraged very strongly indeed?

Mr. Strang

I agree with both of my hon. Friend's observations. In this connection, I know that he will welcome the long-term study which has been carried out by a group set up by the Forestry Commission and which is now being circulated as a consultative document for comments.

Mr. Peyton

I hope that the hon. Gentleman will not be too defensive about this matter. He is not being attacked. But does he agree that for a nation such as ours to be content to produce less than 10 per cent. of its timber requirements is really very dangerous and quite unsatisfactory?

Mr. Strang

I am deeply grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for assuring me that neither he nor his colleagues are attacking me in any way. I certainly agree that we want to increase timber production. Indeed, leaving aside the planting programme, actual production ought to increase in the near future. But, of course, the right hon. Gentleman is right to draw attention to the fact that we still produce less than 10 per cent. of our total requirements of timber.

9. Mr. Costain

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will next meet the chairman of the Forestry Commission.

Mr. Strang

Neither my right hon. Friend the Minister nor I have any plans at present to meet the chairman of the Forestry Commission.

Mr. Costain

Will the Minister take the opportunity to read the recent report prepared by the Forestry Commission? Will he make it clear to the House what proposals in the report he intends to recommend to the Government? Does he want to keep the forestry industry as it is, or does he want to increase it by 1,000 hectares or 8,000 hectares? Will the Minister advise the House of the position?

Mr. Strang

I am glad that the hon. Gentleman has drawn attention to that important report. He may be aware that the Forestry Commission is treating it as a consultative document and is inviting comments from all interested parties. It will then put the issue to Ministers.

Mr. Jasper More

When the Minister meets the chairman of the Commission, will he discuss with him the Scotland Bill, in the light of the amendment made in another place to exclude forestry from the subjects to be devolved? Will he discuss with him shedding any political prejudices in the light of what will be in the best interests of Great Britain as a whole in future forestry policy?

Mr. Strang

The Government have made clear that they will be giving careful consideration to all the amendments carried in another place.