HC Deb 21 April 1983 vol 41 cc406-8
11. Mr. Canavan

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total area and value of forest land being sold or in the process of being sold under the provision of the Forestry Act 1981.

Mrs. Fenner

Between the passing of the Forestry Act 1981 and 31 March 1983, the Forestry Commission received £18.9 million from the sale of land and other real assets. The area involved included 9,433 hectares of forestry land and plantations.

As at 31 March, a further 40,877 hectares of forestry land and plantations, with an estimated value of £29 million, were also in the process of being sold—that is, they were either on the market or had been approved for sale and reserve prices had been fixed. Other real assets committed for sale at 31 March are expected to realise a further £3.6 million.

Mr. Canavan

As the original sales programme seems to have escalated from £40 million over three years to £82 million over five years, when will this doctrinaire public asset-stripping stop? Why will the Minister not tell us the purchase price and who the purchaser or potential purchaser is in each sale? Is that official secrecy designed to stop the public finding out that thousands of acres of the best forest land, most of which is in Scotland, are being hived off by the Tories at give-away prices to their rich friends?

Mrs. Fenner

I refute utterly the absurd allegations of the hon. Gentleman and point out to him that the original programme of disposals to a value of £40 million over the three years to 31 March 1984 has been revalued to take account of inflation, and a further two years added. That gives a revised disposals programme of about £82 million. I draw to the hon. Gentleman's attention the absurdity of his exaggerated charges by telling him that just under 1 per cent. of forestry land has been disposed of.

Mr. Stephen Ross

Does the Minister accept that hon. Members of other Opposition parties regret the Government's decision to sell forestry land, which provides badly needed work in rural areas? Forestry land has been abandoned in my constituency. What are the future plans for sales? Will there be further sales during the next two or three years?

Mrs. Fenner

I do not accept the allegations in the first part of the hon. Gentleman's remarks. All of those who have bought forestry land have done so as going concerns for forestry. The hon. Gentleman will know that the Forestry Commission has the authority to give licences for the felling of trees, and has the power to insist on replanting. That shows the absurdity of his comment that forests are being abandoned. The original disposals were planned to be carried out over three years. This matter is dealt with each year when we discuss public expenditure, and it would be impossible for me to forecast future sales.

Mr. Bulmer

Will my hon. Friend confirm that where forests are to be sold in areas of outstanding natural beauty, perhaps adjacent to land owned by the National Trust, those concerned with protecting the integrity of the landscape are given the earliest possible warning by the Department?

Mr. Canavan

Especially for apple trees.

Mrs. Fenner

Notification of sales is given in the Estates Gazette. Neighbours of such plantations would be informed about sales.

Mr. Home Robertson

Is the Minister aware that the Secretary of State for Scotland, in reply to a question from me on 30 March about the use of funds raised from the sale of forestry land, told the House: All the money is ploughed back into the forestry industry?"—[Official Report, 30 March 1983; Vol. 40, c. 336.] Will the Minister now set the record straight by telling us that all the money goes straight to the Treasury?

Mrs. Fenner

It is reasonable for the Government to make the most efficient use of public assets in the context of restraining public expenditure generally. The hon. Gentleman should know that the commission receives adequate sums of public money each year by way of grant-in-aid to fund its agreed programmes. The money that it receives is almost four times the amount retrieved by the disposal programme.

Mr. Buchan

I am not sure whether that is a denial of the statement of the Secretary of State for Scotland—

Mr. Home Robertson

Yes, it is.

Mr. Buchan

The right hon. Gentleman asserted that the money was being ploughed back into the industry, but the hon. Lady says that there will be no such hypothecation in relation to the Treasury. Will she ensure that the two Departments liaise so that we no longer get such misinformation either from her Department or from the Scottish Office?

Mrs. Fenner

The hon. Gentleman's comments will be drawn to the attention of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.