§ 2.50 p.m.
§ Lord SherfieldMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government why it has taken them 10 months to give their comments on the recommendations of the Science and Technology Committee's Report on the Scientific Aspects of Forestry, which was published on 10th December 1980 and debated on 23rd February 1981.
5§ The Minister of State, Scottish Office (The Earl of Mansfield)My Lords, when we debated the Select Committee's Report last February, I said that the Government would consider the report with care and would be undertaking consultations with a number of interested parties, including the Research Advisory Committee and the Home Grown Timber Advisory Committee. The committee's recommendations are various and complex, and consultations have taken longer than anticipated. These discussions are still continuing, and as soon as we are in a position to announce our conclusions, the Government will do so in the most appropriate manner.
§ Lord SherfieldMy Lords, while giving qualified thanks to the noble Earl for that not unexpected reply, may I ask him three supplementary questions? First, when can the House expect a reply on this subject; can he quantify the expressions which he used? Secondly, is there any particular road block or hurdle which is holding up the proceedings? Thirdly, would he not agree that this delay shows, as suggested in our report, that there is something seriously amiss with the machinery of Government in dealing with forestry questions?
§ The Earl of MansfieldMy Lords, I think that I can answer the noble Lord's three-sided question in this way, but may I first say that I do not think that it is right to speak of delay. It must be borne in mind that, for instance, the committee's proposals were wide-ranging and some of them touched upon questions of organisation and responsibility. The discussions which have been going on have involved no fewer than 13 departments and agencies, and I could regale the House with a list of them, but I shall not. However, they have proceeded as quickly as practicable, given the objective of finding a consensus. The noble Lord, who headed this distinguished committee, will also realise that there are a number of financial implications which the Government have to consider. So in the circumstances I hope that the House will not press me to predict at this time a firm date, but I repeat that we are well seized of the importance of the report and its implications, and we are equally seized of the need to announce our conclusion as soon as we can.
§ Lord TanlawMy Lords, can the Minister say that perhaps the main reason for delay is that Her Majesty's Government are giving serious consideration to dismantling the Forestry Commission, based on proposals put forward in a paper published by the Institute of Economic Affairs, and entitled State Forestry for the Axe?
§ The Earl of MansfieldNo, my Lords.