§ 2.34 p.m.
THE EARL OF MANSFIELDMy Lords, I beg leave to ask Her Majesty's Government the Question of which I have given private notice.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ "To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are yet in a position to state the damage caused in acreage and cubic volume to Scottish forests and woodlands by the gale of January 31, and whether they have come to any decision as to the prohibition meantime of timber imports, the cessation of the issuing of felling licences for conifers, the fixing of minimum prices per cubic foot for the various categories of blown trees, the possible importation of Canadian, Scandinavian or other foreign woodsmen to assist in the clearing up of the storm damage, and similar relevant problems."]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (LORD CARRINGTON)My Lords, I very much regret that the amount of wind damage to woodlands is severe. The damage is mainly concentrated in the North-East particularly in Moray and Nairn, Banff, Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire. North of the Caledonian Canal spasmodic damage has occurred, but it is on a much smaller scale. The South and West of Scotland, fortunately, have largely escaped. The damage is predominantly in the middle-aged and older woodlands on private estates. In the younger plantations of the Forestry Commission the windfall is much less extensive. Estimates of the quantity blown must necessarily be treated with reserve at this stage. The total in Scotland as a whole might be of the order of 30 to 35 million cubic feet. The magnitude of this figure can be gauged if I mention that in 292 Scotland last year a total of 16 million cubic feet of all categories and types of timber was licensed for felling. This figure included 4 million cubic feet of hardwoods and 5 million cubic feet from thinnings in coniferous woodlands.
The clearing up of the windblow will need to be tackled energetically by the Forestry Commission, private owners and the timber trade. Detailed plans must await a more accurate assessment of the quantity of timber of the various categories involved, and an estimate of the time at which they can be placed on the market. In the meantime plans are, however, being made to ensure the orderly consumption of the produce from the blown trees. The present rate of consumption of sawn softwoods in Great Britain is approximately 1.2 million standards per annum, of which less than 5 per cent. is available from the home woodlands. Consumption is restricted by licensing, and the Ministry of Materials have agreed to make special arrangements to facilitate the licensing of the produce from these blown trees. Broadly speaking, they propose to arrange that licences are freely issued to consumers to use sawn timber from the blown trees for any reasonable purpose. The Ministry of Materials will also consider the purchase of suitable timber, both sawn and in the log, for stockpiling purposes as soon as more details can be given of the quantities and specifications available.
With regard to the smaller sizes produced, suitable for pitwood, discussions are proceeding with the National Coal Board, who are readily co-operating with a view to working out the best measures to ensure the rapid absorption of the material. Here again, detailed plans must await more precise assessments of quantities and period of delivery. For the present, the Forestry Commission have stopped the issue of clear felling licences for softwoods in Scotland, save where circumstances are exceptional. Discussions are proceeding in Scotland between the owners and the timber trade and with the Advisory Committees of the Forestry Commission of the areas primarily concerned. Further proposals for Government action may emerge as a result of more detailed information and of the consultations which are in progress. It would be a mistake to take hasty action until the situation has been more closely examined.
THE EARL OF MANSFIELDMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for his full answer, may I ask him to impress upon the Government that they should take steps to get an ample labour force, because the labour force available in Scotland will be nowhere near sufficient? In view of the importance of this matter, I shall ask a further Question in a few weeks' time.