§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was(a) the proportion of broadleaves of the total planting in Scotland by (i) the Forestry Commission and (ii) private sector companies in the years 1988 to 1992, (b) the hectarage of non-surplus plantations, buildings and plantable land sold and the sum raised by the sales since 1985, (c) the hectarage of non-surplus plantations sold and the sum raised by the sales since 1985 and (d) the hectarage of land sold by the Forestry Commission whether surplus or non-surplus where public access has been preserved by agreement since 1985.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 11 November 1992]: Between 1 April 1988 and 31 March 1992, some 7 per cent.
£'000s Year ended 31 March 1989 1990 1991 1992 Planting grants paid to the private forestry sector in Scotland 5,910 (7,300) 6,545 (7,599) 7,708 (8,248) 7,908 Forest Recreation and Amenity Subsidies North Scotland 710 (877) 870 (1,010) 1,131 (1,210) 1,053 Mid Scotland 899 (1,110) 1,045 (1,213) 1,310 (1,402) 1,297 South Scotland 706 (872) 838 (973) 1,087 (1,163) 1,097 Scotland (Total) 2,315 (2,859) 2,753 (3,196) 3,528 (3,775) 3,447 England and Wales 5,748 (7,100) 6,564 (7,621) 8,431 (9,022) 8,660 Expenditure on Visitor Facilities North Scotland 267 (330) 395 (458) 508 (544) 504 Mid Scotland 413 (510) 541 (628) 810 (867) 680 South Scotland 390 (481) 396 (460) 701 (750) 657
§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was(a) the Forestry Commission's industrial labour force and (b) the numbers employed by contractors, in each year since 1988.
854W(1,943 hectares) of the Forestry Commission's total planting in Scotland was with broadleaves. The equivalent figure for grant-aided planting by the private sector was 20 per cent. (12,862 hectares).
The Forestry Commission's plantations are not classified as surplus or non-surplus. The total area of land sold by the commission between 1 April 1985 and 31 March 1992, including plantations, buildings and plantable land, was 66,323 hectares, of which 34,767 hectares comprised plantations. The total sum realised was £96.7 million, of which £53.0 million came from the sale of 41,807 hectares of forest land, including plantations, plantable land, and associated land. The sum realised from the sale of plantations is not recorded separately.
Public rights of way over land sold by the Forestry Commission are, of course, legally protected. Arrangements for preserving more general public access to such land were put in place in October 1991. Under these arrangements the commission offers to enter into an access agreement with the appropriate local authority before individual woodlands which have enjoyed unencumbered public access are put up for sale. Two such access agreements have been entered into to date, involving a total area of 68.4 hectares, but the sale of only one of these has so far been completed, covering an area of 21.4 hectares. Other agreements are being negotiated.
§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was(a) the value of the planting grants made to the private forestry sector in Scotland, (b) the amount of forest recreation and amenity subsidy made to the Forestry Commission in Scotland and in England and Wales, (c) the amount of forest recreation and amenity subsidy made to each Scottish conservancy of the Forestry Commission and (d) the sums spent on visitor facilities in each of the conservancies in Scotland, in each year since 31 March 1988, in each case giving also the figures adjusted for inflation.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 11 November 1992]: The information is given in the tables, with the figures updated to 1992 prices being shown in brackets.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 11 November 1992]: The information is as follows:
855W
1989 1990 1991 1992 Number of industrial workers employed by the Forestry Commission on 31 March 3,032 2,781 2,615 2,447 Approximate number of contractors employed directly or indirectly by the Forestry Commission during the year ended 31 March 1,200 1,300 1,300 1,300 Approximate number of contractors working on Forestry Commission land for purchasers of standing timber during the year ended 31 March 1,500 1,400 1,400 1,300