Forestry Commission (Hansard, 25 April 1991)

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the names of each individual on each regional advisory committee of the Forestry Commission and indicate whether they represent forestry, trade union or environmental interests.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
[holding answer 22 April 1991]: The Forestry Act 1967 stipulates that not fewer than four members of each regional advisory committee will be appointed by the Forestry Commissioners after consultation with organisations appearing to them to represent the interests of owners of woodlands and timber merchants respectively and organisations concerned with the study and promotion of forestry. In 1974, Forestry Ministers instructed the commissioners to appoint to each RAC representatives of agricultural, planning and environmental interests; it was also decided that the remaining place should continue to be allocated to a trade union representative.
The names of the members of each RAC, and the backgrounds from which they have been drawn, are given in the table. RAC chairmen are, as far as possible, appointed from independent backgrounds.
North of England RAC

Professor G. R. Dickson—Chairman

R. N. Cartwright—Forestry (Forestry Profession)

J. Derham—Trade Union

T. R. Fetherstonhaugh—Forestry (Timber Growers)

N. C. Forbes Adam—Forestry (Timber Growers)

Lady E. Kirk-Environment

A. A. Macdonald—Planning

R. J. Steel Addison—Agriculture

J. T. Todd—Forestry (Timber Merchants)

East England RAC

W. E. Lane—Chairman

N. A. Braden—Forestry (Timber Merchants)

D. M. Clark—Planning

M. Craske—Trade Union

T. Cook—Forestry (Timber Growers)

N. G. Halsey—Forestry (Timber Growers)

A. R. Pelly—Forestry (Timber Growers)

C. Stratton—Environment

L. Woodham—Agriculture

West England RAC

Mrs. R. Thomas—Chairman

N. D. Anderson—Forestry (Timber Growers)

Lord Courteney—Agriculture

C. A. Eade—Forestry (Timber Growers)

A. Fooks—Trade Union

R. Jarman—Environment

J. T. Perry—Planning

G. E. Smith—Forestry (Timber Merchants)

J. H. B. Workman—Forestry (Forestry Profession)

North Scotland RAC

F. Critchley—Chairman

B. E. Crabtree—Trade Union

A. D. M. Farquharson—Forestry (Timber Growers)

Professor C. Gimingham—Environment

Councillor F. R. M. Keith—Planning

A. N. G. Laing—Forestry (Timber Growers)

M. J. Leslie-Forestry (Timber Merchants)

Professor H. G. Miller—Forestry (Forestry Profession)

M. Pottinger—Agriculture

Mid Scotland RAC

Dr. Jean Balfour—Chairman

A. W. Barbour—Forestry (Timber Growers)

P. Fairweather—Forestry (Forestry Profession)

J. A. Fell—Forestry (Timber Growers)

Councillor G. McGrath—Planning

J. McNaughton—Agriculture
550
Morton—Trade Union

P. S. Murray—Forestry (Timber Merchants)

P. Wormell—Environment

South Scotland RAC

H. A. Waterson—Chairman

D. B. Crawford—Forestry (Forestry Profession)

J. F. S. Gourlay—Agriculture

D. J. Liddell-Grainger—Forestry (Timber Growers)

D. Minns—Environment

Captain J. W. N. Mitchell—Forestry (Timber Growers)

T. Smith—Forestry (Timber Merchants)

Councillor A. L. Tulley—Planning

H. Wilson—Trade Union

Wales RAC

M. A. McLaggan—Chairman

Mrs. S. A. G. Ballance—Forestry (Timber Growers)

J. Donovan—Environment

Dr. G. K. Elliot—Forestry (Forestry Profession)

J. R. Lloyd Jones—Agriculture

M. J. Morgan—Planning

K. Neale—Trade Union

Colonel P. C. Ormrod—Forestry (Timber Growers)

M. Oxnard—Forestry (Timber Merchants)

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the biographical details of the Forestry Commissioners indicating whether they have experience in(a) forestry, (b) environment and conservation, (c) employment and (d) other.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
[holding answer 22 April 1991]: The information is as follows:
CHAIRMAN J. Raymond Johnstone—Chairman of the Forestry Commission since 1989. Chairman of Murray Johnstone Ltd. Chairman Scottish Financial Enterprise. Honorary president Scottish Opera. Past member Scottish Advisory Committee of the Nature Conservancy Council.
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN AND DIRECTOR GENERAL R. Cutler—Full-time appointment since 1990 at grade 2 level. Professional forestry qualifications and considerable experience in multi-purpose forest management. Formerly member of the Colonial Forest Service in Kenya, latterly chief executive, New Zealand Ministry of Forestry.
OTHER COMMISSIONERS: FULL-TIME R. T. Bradley—Commissioner Private Forestry and Development at grade 3 level. Professional forestry qualifications and wide experience in multi-purpose forest management. Held various posts in the Forestry Commission since 1960, becoming a Commissioner in 1985. D. L. Foot—Commissioner Operations at grade 3 level. Professional forestry qualifications and wide experience in multi-purpose forest management. Held various posts in the Forestry Commission since 1961, becoming a commissioner in 1986. D. S. Grundy—Commissioner Administration and Finance at grade 3 level. Economist. Joined the Forestry Commission in 1982, after periods with the Ministry of Fuel and Power, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department of the Environment and the Civil Service College. Appointed commissioner in 1990.
OTHER COMMISSIONERS: PART-TIME J. D. Pollock-Appointed 1978. Former General Secretary of the Educational Institute for Scotland. Past member of the Manpower Services Committee Scotland and the Broadcasting Council for Scotland. Former chairman of the Scottish Trades Union Congress. Member of the Employment Appeals Tribunal. D. Coutts—Appointed 1984. Chartered accountant with local government experience. Norfolk county councillor since 1970 (leader 1973–79). Member of Local Government 551W Audit Commission 1983–90. C. R. Woosnam—Appointed 1986. Woodland owner and farmer. Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors with wide experience of management of agricultural and forestry properties in Wales and the Border counties. Member Timber Growers UK (deputy chairman (1983–86). F. M. Strang Steel—Appointed 1988. Woodland owner and farmer. Has managed a mixed forestry/farming estate near Selkirk for 10 years. Chairman of south-east region of Scottish Landowners Federation. Member Timber Growers UK. A keen conservationist and member of Borders Farming and Forestry Wildlife Advisory Group. R. P. Hancock—Appointed 1988. International insurance consultant. Member of Lloyd's, freeman of the City of London. Presently has farming and forestry interests in Surrey and the Scottish Borders. Particular interest in wildlife conservation and deer husbandry. Council member of the Surrey County Agricultural Society. T. S. Mallinson—Appointed 1989. President Timber Trade Federation. President UK Institute of Carpenters. Former Chairman Timber Research and Development Association and former president Institute of Wood Science. Chairman Epping Forest Centenary Trust.

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the biographical details of the conservators of the Foresty Commission, indicating whether they have experience in(a) forestry, (b) environment and conservation, (c) employment or (d) other.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
[holding answer 22 April 1991]: The Forestry Commission's conservators are:

North England—S. A. Neustein

East England—N. Dannatt

West England—R. J. N. Busby

Wales—J. F. Morgan

North Scotland—J. Atterson

Mid Scotland—G. J. Hamilton

South Scotland—G. M. Cowie

They are Forestry Commission officials who have been appointed to their posts through the normal departmental procedures. It would not be appropriate to give biographical details.