HC Deb 20 January 1993 vol 217 cc272-4W
Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list each area of Forestry Commission land in Wales by county hectarage and location sold to the private sector during each of the last five years and the total receipts, by county, accruing to the commission from such sales.

Sir Wyn Roberts

Lists giving details of the areas of forest land sold by the Forestry Commission in the four years from 1988 to 1991 are held in the Library of the House. A similar list is being prepared of the areas of forest land sold in 1992 and I shall arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House as soon as possible.

The receipts from sales of forest land are not recorded by county, but the total receipts for Wales in each of the last five financial years are as follows:

Year ended 31 March Receipts £000
1988 871
1989 1,527
1990 1,786
1991 1,956
1992 2,179

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his current policy in respect of the sale of Forestry Commission assets in Wales; and if he will list those forest areas currently available for sale to the private sector.

Sir Wyn Roberts

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my right hon. and learned Friend the then Secretary of State for Scotland on 16 June 1989.

The following areas of forest land in Wales are at present being offered for sale on the open market:

County and Name Area (hectares)
Dyfed
Allt Crychdu 18
Allt Fawr 7
Allt Llwyn Dyfrion 11
Allt Pistyll Dewi 33
Allt Pwll Priddog 18
Allt Tir Isaf 5
Allt y Fergwm 23
Brynwicket 8
Bwlch Newydd 8
Bylchau Duon 62
Careg Fadog 6
Cilfowyr 3
Coed Cwm Saethe 5
Coed Ffridd Cwmere 20
Coed Gwastad 28
Coedmore, Coad Newydd 17
Coed Rhosan 5
Coed y Gorof 7
Cresselly Big Wood 48
Cwmcroiddur 7
Cwmfran Fawr 3
Cwm Gwachel 15
Cwnheidre Uchaf 24
Erryd Wood 5
Fforest 22
Ffynon Le Frith 25
Glanteifi 3
Glaspant 4
Glebe Woods 17
Hafod Iwan 32
Knightson Bottom 15
Llwyn y Gwair 14
Lon Isaf 7
Maestwynog 12
North Wood 27
Pant y Gaseg 3
Pencwm Fawr 9
Penhill Wood 4
Penrallt Ddu 13
Pont Eynon and Allt y Forlan 29
Pont Henri 14
Portis Pant 30
Prycemoor 5
Rams Wood 26
Rhos Geler 9
Scolton 30
Sunnyhill Wood 9
Tanyrallt 6
The Coombes 6
Trevane Wood 10
Troserch 35
Tynton Wood 4
Ty'r Shyme 7
Waun Baglan Woods 26
Wenallt 17
Gwent
Craig y Merchant 24
Hafod Risclawdd 23
Luggas Wood and Youngs Grove 15
Gwynedd
Bodfeddau 10
Coed Dyfi 17
Coed Ty Uchaf 15
Glyn Estate 49
Gwenfro Uchaf 7
Irby 4
Parc Main 6
Tan y Graig 3
Powys
Allt Cwm Tywyll 6
Craig Yr Henffordd 8
Cwmbach and Cwmcoch 44
Great Wood 9

County and Name Area (hectares)
Pwll Llydan 31
South Glamorgan
Breach Wood 9
West Glamorgan
Craig Ynysgollen 10
Gelligaer 33

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what evidence he has that a public access requirement diminishes the market value of Forestry Commission assets in Wales on offer of sale to the public sector;

(2) if he will list each area of Forestry Commission land in Wales sold to the private sector over the last five years in respect of which public access agreements have been made.

Sir Wyn Roberts

The arrangements for securing continued public access to woodland sold by the Forestry Commission were introduced in October 1991. They have not been in operation long enough to assess what effect they might have on market values. Only five of the woodland areas considered under these arrangements have been sold so far. None of the sales was subject to an access agreement.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy in respect of the maintenance of public access to Forestry Commission land sold to the private sector; what steps he has taken to ensure the implementation of this policy; and what assessment he has made of its efficacy.

Sir Wyn Roberts

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my right hon. and learned Friend the then Secretary of State for Scotland on 21 November 1990, columns164–66. The arrangements to implement the policy were introduced in October 1991 and are scheduled to be reviewed at the end of this year.

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