Forestry (Hansard, 20 April 1993)

§ Mr. Chris Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the proceedings of the group charged with reviewing certain aspects of Government forestry policy whose existence was announced by him on 30 March;
(2) whether members of the public may, at their own cost, attend as observers meetings of the group charged with reviewing aspects of Government forestry policy announced by him on 30 March.

§ Sir Hector Monro
No. As is the usual practice, the policy advice offered by the forestry review group and the discussions and papers on which it is based will be confidential to Ministers.

§ Mr. Chris Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what provisions exist for professional foresters, experts, other interested parties and members of the public to give evidence for the consideration of the group charged with reviewing aspects of Government forestry policy announced by him on 30 March.

§ Sir Hector Monro
The forestry review group, which held its first meeting on 31 March, will not be taking formal evidence but those bodies or members of the public who wish to make representations may write to the secretary of the group at the following address:

G S Pearson

Secretary, Forestry Review Group

Room 6/61

New St Andrew's House

EDINBURGH

EH1 3TG

§ Mr. Chris Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he estimates he will receive a report from the group charged with reviewing aspects of Government forestry policy announced by him on 30 March; and if he will publish that report.

§ Sir Hector Monro
The forestry review group held its first meeting on 31 March. My right hon. Friend and his fellow forestry Ministers expect to receive a report on a timetable consistent with the existing commitment to complete the review of the effectiveness of incentives for forestry investment by the end of this year.
There are no present plans to publish any of the advice offered by the group to Ministers.

§ Mr. Chris Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the names of and posts held by the members of the group charged with reviewing aspects of Government forestry policy announced by him on 30 March.
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§ Sir Hector Monro
The forestry review group, established by forestry Ministers, includes the following officials:

Mr. H. H. Mills, Secretary, The Scottish Office Environment Department (Chairman);

Mr. T. R. Cutler, Director General, Forestry Commission;

Mr. D. S. Grundy, Commissioner, Forestry Commission;

Mr. M. L. Williams, Head of Industry, Agriculture and Employment Group, HM Treasury;

Dr. S. Harding, Director of Policy and Resources, Forestry Commission;

Mr. T. J. Osmond, Head of Land Use and Tenure Division, Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food;

Mr. D. R. Thomas, Head of Land, Agricultural Subsidies and Grants Division, Welsh Office Agriculture Department;

Dr. R. Shaw, Head of Rural Development Division, Department of the Environment;

Mr. T. G. Birley, Head of Rural Affairs Division, The Scottish Office Environment Department;

Mr. D. Green, Prime Minister's Policy Unit;

Mr. G. S. Pearson, Rural Policy Coordinator, The Scottish Office Environment Department.

§ Mr. Chris Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 30 March,Official Report, column 150, to the hon. Member for Staffordshire, Moorlands (Mr. Knox) on forestry (a) when the group of officials charged with examining forestry first met and on what subsequent dates meetings were held, (b) what dates have been arranged for future meetings, (c) how often it will meet and (d) what is the estimated cost of the meetings and how this is shared between different Government Departments.

§ Sir Hector Monro
The forestry review group met first on 31 March and will meet again on 5 May. No firm dates have been set for further meetings. The group will meet as often as necessary to fulfil its task, consistent with the commitment to complete the review of the effectiveness of incentives for forestry investment by the end of this year. No estimates of the cost of its meetings have been made and any such costs will be met, as appropriate, by the Departments represented on the group.