§ Mr. Maloneasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the report of the fines enforcement officer experiments in Airdrie and Edinburgh to be published.
§ Mr. YoungerThe report of the experiments has now been evaluated and is being published today. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The results of the experiments in Edinburgh and Airdrie are encouraging and I have already announced our intention to extend the scheme to other sheriff courts in Scotland as resources permit. We have for some time been concerned at the number of prison sentences served for non-payment256W application with the local authority and the applicant, as appropriate, and to inform the local authority of the decision eventually reached.
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to ensure that no further ancient semi-natural woodlands on the Forestry Commission's estate are clear-felled until such time as the Forestry Commission produces its policy statement on broadleaved woodland in Britain.
§ Mr. John MacKayIt is the Forestry Commission's intention that ancient semi-natural woods identified on its land will be managed in accordance with guidelines to be agreed with the Nature Conservancy Council.
In the meantime, however, the commission will follow the spirit of these proposed arrangements.