§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will seek to introduce appropriate legislation to ensure that the widows and widowers of married teachers will receive equal benefits and pensions in cases where equal contributions from salary have been made by teachers for pension and benefit purposes.
§ Dr. MawhinneyI have no such plans. Woodlands
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the estimated area of broadleaved woodland in Northern Ireland in 1968, 1978, 1983 and 1988.
§ Mr. ViggersAlthough figures are not available for the years in question estimates carried out in 1986–87 indicated
732W
District 1986–87 district rate Percentage increase 1987–88 district rate Percentage increase 1988–89 district rate Percentage increase 1989–90 district rate Percentage increase 1 Antrim 45.75p 8.93 48.50p 6.01 51.00p 5.15 53.00p 3.92 2 Ards 53.00p 6.00 53.00p nil 54.00p 1.89 57.50p 6.48 3 Armagh 38.00p 10.14 38.00p nil 41.00p 7.89 44.00p 7.32 4 Ballymena 38.00p 4.54 39.85p 4.87 42.85p 7.53 44.00p 2.68 5 Ballymoney 42.25p 7.10 46.00p 1.66 47.00p 2.17 50.25p 6.91 that there were 8,100 hectares of pure broadleaved woodland and 6,500 hectares of mixed broadleaf conifer woodland in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Northern Ireland forestry service will carry out a review of the broadleaved woodland grant scheme in parallel with that being done by the Forestry Commission; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ViggersThe broadleaved woodland grant scheme was closed for applications in March 1988. Accordingly, no review of the scheme is contemplated.