§ 13. Mr. O'Neillasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will be meeting the chairman of the Forestry Commission to discuss land use in Scotland.
§ Mr. John MacKayMy right hon. Friend meets the chairman of the Forestry Commission from time to time to discuss a range of topics, including land use. No date has been set for their next meeting.
§ Mr. O'NeillWhen the Secretary of State meets the chairman of the Forestry Commission, will he ensure that all practical—and, if necessary, legislative—steps are taken to ensure that the Nature Conservancy Council and the Forestry Commission will have powers to prevent 379 further felling in the Abernethy forest, and that the Earl of Seafield's vandalism will be stopped once and for all and the Caledonian forest protected?
§ Mr. MacKayThe agreement under which the felling to which the hon. Gentleman referred took place was drawn up in 1980. At that time the convention was that unless the owner agreed to representations being made to a third party, they would not be made. However, since 1981 the position has changed considerably and the Forestry Commission would refuse to give consent to any schemes if consultation with the NCC were not carried out.