§ Dr. David Clarkasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many forestry grant scheme applications are currently being considered which affect land within Caithness and Sutherland; and if he will list them and the hectarage involved.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe Forestry Commission is currently considering 28 such applications, as follows:
Name of Properly Area (Hectares) Forestry Grant Scheme Cnoc Moine Na Caillin 284.4 Braelangwell 629.7 Limekiln and Whitewell 1,431.5 Torrish 220.1 North Burn 99.1 Yellow Moss 17.1 Sciberscross 940.6 Skitten 0.9 Eriboll 804.2 Langwell Wood 91.5 Navidale 65.0 Cnoc Na Main 149.8 Ben Bhraggie 42.0 Glencavlie 30.1 Loubcroy 202.0 Strathy East 282.0 Kirkton Farm (Eglaise Muir) 194.4 Cnoc Bacach 28.0 Achany 199.4 Broadleaved Woodland Grant Scheme Baddhu Birchwoods 23.0 Craggans Woods 25.7 Loch Dhu 11.5 Airdens-Innish 0.8 Migdale Mill Farm 1.6 Strathmore Lodge Woods 0.7 Forss House 1.3 Ackergill Woods 1.3 Cnoc Bacach 9.8
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total area of land which was referred to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland by the Forestry Commission under forestry grant consultation procedures during the years ended 31 March 1986 and 31 March 1987; and if he will list in the Official Report by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland area offices, the area of land in relation to which the 147W Department advised it was (a) acceptable to award forestry grant and (b) inappropriate to offer grant on agricultural grounds.
§ Mr. John MacKayDuring the period 1 April 1986 to 31 March 1987, a total of 49,895 hectares of land was referred to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland by the Forestry Commission under the procedures for consultation on forestry grant scheme applications. The detailed information requested is as follows:
Area Ofice Area Referred (in hectares) Area Cleared (in hectares) Area Not Cleared (in hectares) Aberdeen 675 593 82 Ayr 9,027 8,153 874 Galashiels 2,767 1,921 846 Dumfries 7,010 6,085 925 Dundee 678 602 76 Edinburgh 768 669 99 Glasgow 6,020 5,708 312 Keith 993 993 — Kirkwall — — — Inverness 4,496 4,278 218 Oban 3,620 3,581 59 Perth 2,923 2,490 433 Portree 628 628 — Stirling 4,245 2,221 2,024 Thurso 6,045 5,774 271 Total 49,895 43,676 6,219
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the total areas of land which the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland advised the Forestry Commission were acceptable for award of forestry grant aid in each of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland area offices in each of the LCA classes 4, 5 and 6 in the year commencing 1 April 1986.
§ Mr. John MacKayI regret that this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will instruct the Foresty Commission (a) formally to acknowledge and respond to all comments or objections from statutory consultees over applications for forestry grant aid, and (b) inform statutory consultees of the outcome of all applications it has commented upon; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MacKayIn order to keep down administrative costs, it is the Forestry Commission's normal practice only to acknowledge or respond to comments or objections from statutory authorities consulted over forestry grant applications when there are issues which need to be resolved in discussion with the authorities concerned. The commission always informs authorities of the outcome of the application in such circumstances, as it does in other cases if requested to do so. I do not see any need to instruct the commission to change this fair and reasonable procedure.