§ 9. Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the amount currently spent by his Department on research into tree diseases; and what was the figure in 1990. [21327]
§ Mr. KynochLast year, the Forestry Commission spent £785,000 on research into tree diseases. Its expenditure in 1990 was £715,000.
§ Mr. PawseyI thank my hon. Friend for that answer. What areas of tree disease attract the most funding? On what basis are those priorities made? What trees are most susceptible to disease?
§ Mr. KynochMy hon. Friend has a healthy interest in tree diseases. I know that he has been invited to visit the research station at Alice Holt in Farnham. When he sets a date for his visit, which I understand he has not yet done, he will be able to have a root and branch examination into all the diseases and, possibly, at the next Scottish questions, he can branch out into another area.