HC Deb 17 February 1983 vol 37 cc244-5W
20. Mr. W. Benyon

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish details of each sale made by the Forestry Commission since the 1980 Act came into force, together with the total sum raised.

Mrs. Fenner

The selection of properties for sale under the Forestry Act 1981 to meet the financial objectives set by the Government is a matter for the Forestry Commission. I have asked the commission to send my hon. Friend a list of plantations and areas of plantable land that had beeen sold up to 21 January 1983, the latest date for which details are available. Information on individual sales of other real assets, such as residential properties, is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate expense.

Between 27 July 1981, when the Act came into force, and 21 January 1983, the commission received a total of £15.4 million from sales of real property of all types.

44. Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent the Forestry Commission has met the Government's guidelines on its sale of forestry holdings.

Mrs. Fenner

The Forestry Commission has taken full account of the Government's guidelines in all its sales of forestry land and plantations since the passage of the Forestry Act 1981.