§ Colonel PERKINSasked the hon. Member for Monmouth, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether orders can be given at once in the New Forest not to kill any more red squirrels, in view of the increasing scarcity of this interesting little animal?
§ Sir L. FORESTIER-WALKERThe Commissioners desire to see a reasonable red squirrel population maintained in the New Forest, and no more will be killed while the numbers remain low.
§ Sir J. MARRIOTTasked the hon. Member for Monmouth, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what has been the expenditure per acre on planting fir trees in the New Forest; and what profit per acre is expected from fir plantation in the Forest within the next 50 years?
§ Sir L. FORESTIER-WALKERThe expenditure per acre on planting fir trees in the New Forest has been approximately £7. Sales of coniferous timber during the next 50 years should range between £500,000 and £800,000 according to the way in which tile Forest is treated, timber prices, and so on. It is not possible to allocate the receipts between interest on outlay and profit, nor to reduce them to the basis of per acre planted at the present time.