HC Deb 15 May 1985 vol 79 cc142-3W
38. Sir Hector Monro

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial encouragement he is giving to private forestry; and what estimate he has made of new planting in the private sector in 1985–86.

Mr. John MacKay

Financial encouragement is given to private forestry through the various grant schemes administered by the Forestry Commission and by means of special tax arrangements which acknowledge the fact that forestry is a long-term investment. The commission's estimate of the new planting that will be carried out by the private sector in 1985–86, based upon expected grant applications during the year, is 17,000 hectares.