HC Deb 19 March 1986 vol 94 cc210-3W
Mr. Donald Stewart

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give figures to show for the years 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985 the number of (a) industrial workers and (b) non-industrial workers employed by the Forestry Commission in (i) Scotland, (ii) England and (iii) Wales; and if he will also express the figures as a percentage of the total Forestry Commission industrial work force and non-industrial work force.

Industrial Workers
Year ended 31 March Scotland Percentage of work-force England Percentage of work-force Wales Percentage of work-force Total
1981 2,580 44.5 2,153 37.3 1,052 18.2 5,785
1982 2,410 44.2 2,050 37.6 990 18.2 5,450
1983 2,266 43.7 1,993 38.5 920 17.8 5,179
1984 2,087 43.9 1,837 38.7 825 17.4 4,749
1985 1,780 43.4 1,597 39.0 723 17.6 4,100
Non Industrial Workers
1981 1,019 47.0 839 38.7 309 14.3 2,167
1982 984 46.9 821 39.2 290 13.9 2,095
1983 988 47.7 797 38.5 285 13.8 2,070
1984 1,026 49.1 768 36.9 293 14.0 2,087
(18) (19) (24) (61)
1985 1,054 48.5 814 37.5 306 14.0 2,174
(62) (64) (81) (207)

Note: The net increase in the number of non-industrial staff in 1984 and 1985 was due to 61 clerks being transferred from the industrial grades in 1984 and 146 in 1985. This transfer accounts in part for the marked reduction in the number of industrial staff; other factors are the reorganisation of work, the employment of contractors in some areas and continuing improvements in productivity. The number of industrial clerks transferred to non-industrial grades is shown in the table in brackets.

Mr. Donald Stewart

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the total acreages of land owned by the Forestry Commission in (a) Scotland, (b) England and (c) Wales on any convenient date in each of the past five years.

Mr. Rifkind

The areas of land managed by the Forestry Commission as at 31 March in each year were as follows:

Hectares
Year Scotland England Wales Total
1981 800,052 303,271 160,674 1,263,997
1982 797,511 302,193 158,979 1,258,683
1983 793,540 299,685 157,699 1,250,924
1984 759,758 295,004 154,410 1,209,172
1985 741,993 288,080 150,901 1,180,974

Mr. Donald Stewart

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the total acreages of planted land owned by the Forestry Commission in (a) Scotland, (b) England and (c) Wales on any convenient date in each of the past five years.

Mr. Rifkind

The areas of plantations managed by the Forestry Commission as at 31 March in each year were as follows:

Hectares
Year Scotland England Wales Total
1981 508,015 251,060 136,642 895,717
1982 517,032 251,624 136,847 905,503
1983 521,515 250,358 136,849 908,722
1984 518,839 246,845 135,998 901,682
1985 516,352 241,378 134,407 892,137

Mr. Donald Stewart

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish figures in the Official Report to show the percentage of Forestry Commission owned land in (a) Scotland, (b) England and (c) Wales at any convenient date for each of the past five years.

Mr. Rifkind

The information is as follows:

Mr. Rifkind

The percentages, which have not altered significantly over the past five years, are as follows:

Per cent.
Scotland 63
England 24
Wales 13

Mr. Donald Stewart

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what have been the total sums raised to date from the selling of Forestry Commission land in (a) Scotland, (b) England and (c) Wales since the passing of the Forestry Act 1981; and if he will express for each country the average selling price per acre.

Mr. Rifkind

The information for the period up to 21 February 1986 is as follows:

Receipts from sales of forest land £ million Average sale price per hectare £
Scotland 19.79 727
England 21.97 1,516
Wales 6.24 1,360

In addition, the Forestry Commission has sold agricultural land and residential properties for a total sum of £31.17 million.

Mr. Donald Stewart

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what acreages of (a) planted and (b) unplanted and have been sold by the Forestry Commission in (i) Scotland, (ii) England and (iii) Wales since the passing of the Forestry Act 1981.

Mr. Rifkind

The information for the period up to 21 February 1986 is as follows:

Areas sold (hectares)
Planted land Unplanted forestry land Total
Scotland 22,705 4,508 27,213
England 13,776 709 14,485
Wales 4,294 297 4,591

In addition, the Forestry Commission had sold 50,574 hectares of agricultural and other non-forestry land up to 31 March 1985, the latest date to which comprehensive area figures are readily available in respect of such land.