§ Mr. Macleanasked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, how many acres of land have been purchased in Scotland by the Forestry Commission which are above the altitude at which the planting of trees can be successfully carried on?
§ Sir G. Courthope247,521 acres of land have been acquired by the Forestry Commissioners in Scotland which are unplantable owing to altitude, exposure, unsuitable soil or other adverse conditions. No record is kept of the acreage unsuitable on account of altitude alone.
§ Mr. Macleanasked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether he can state the total number of acres which the Commission have acquired in Scotland; and how many of them are plantable?
§ Sir G. CourthopeThe Forestry Commissioners have acquired 533,723 acres in Scotland, of which 269,275 are plantable. The rest consist of unplantable and agricultural land.
§ Mr. Macleanasked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether the Forestry Commission, on taking over 30,000 acres in Morvern, cleared off 12 to 15 family farms rented at £80 to £100 and including 1,200 acres of arable land; if a condition was inserted in the conveyance to the Commission to the effect that no part of the ground was ever to be used for land settlement; and why this was necessary?
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§ Sir G. CourthopeThe Forestry Commissioners on taking over three estates at Morvern comprising 24,500 acres did not take possession of any family farms or arable land. One of the estates was acquired subject to the condition that the land was to be used only for afforestation purposes and for forest workers' holdings which is a form of land settlement.