Mr. Watkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture how much standing timber has been licensed for felling for the last six months and for August for the counties of Cardigan, Carmarthen, Brecon and Radnor; what are the purposes for which the timber is to be used; and how much was allowed for timber merchants outside Wales.
Mr. T. WilliamsThe licences for felling standing timber granted during the last six months were for 2,500 cubic feet in Cardigan; 109,800 cubic feet in Carmarthen; 287,250 cubic feet in Brecon; and 196,000 cubic feet in Radnor. A licence is normally valid for 12 months and it is not possible to say how much will be felled in any given month.
The Forestry Commissioners have no power to require applicants for felling licences to state the purposes for which the timber is required, and I regret that this information is not available. Since applications for felling licences are made 231W by the owners of the trees, it is not possible to state how much of the felling is done by timber merchants, whether from Wales or elsewhere.