HC Deb 23 February 1994 vol 238 c262
2. Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many access agreements have been reached with private purchasers of Forestry Commission land in each of the past five years.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Sir Hector Monro)

Access agreements are not made between the Forestry Commission and private purchasers.

Mrs. Ewing

Why not?

Sir Hector Monro

They could not be guaranteed in perpetuity.

Mr. Kynoch

Under the current local government structure, regions are obliged to draw up indicative forestry strategies. Will that be a requirement of the new unitary authorities? If so, will there be co-operation and co-ordination between them?

Sir Hector Monro

Yes. I expect close co-operation between the new unitary authorities and the forest authorities and Forest Enterprise—or whatever is in place when the new councils come into being in 1996. Co-operation will be the watchword—particularly in terms of access, which is most important.