§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on progress made to date regarding his review of incentives for forestry investment.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 18 June 1993]: As part of the review which my right hon. Friend announced on 30 March 1993 in a reply to the hon. Member for Staffordshire, Moorlands (Mr. Knox) at column 150, the Forestry Commission has issued a consultation paper seeking views on the effectiveness of the current incentives for forestry investment.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to suspend the forestry 145W market-testing programme and any internal reorganisation of the Forestry Commission pending the outcome of his review on current incentives for forestry investment.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 18 June 1993]: The Forestry Commission will continue to undertake its normal business, including market testing, while the Forestry Review Group is carrying out its work. The Commission carried out a major internal reorganisation in 1992 and any proposals for further significant changes will not be considered until the outcome of the review is known.
§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what projects have been undertaken by Central Scotland Woodland: A Countryside Trust Ltd since its inception; if he will give details of the funding of each project; what outside bodies have been involved in each project; what contribution they have made; and how many people were employed in each project per agency involved.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 21 June 1993]: Central Scotland Woodlands: A Countryside Trust Ltd. as a private sector company limited by guarantee, with charitable status, is responsible to its board of directors. The principal shareholders are Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Enterprise, Central, Lothian and Strathclyde regional councils and Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Falkirk, Monklands, Motherwell, Strathkelvin and West Lothian district councils. I have asked Sir David Montgomery, its chairman, to write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the acreage of Forestry Commission-owned forestry and the total number of Forestry Commission employees in each Scottish constituency; if he will list the projects which the Forestry Commission is carrying out with other agencies; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 21 June 1993]: The Forestry Commission does not keep records of the area of its landholdings or number of employees by constituency and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The Forestry Commission carries out a large number of projects with other agencies and organisations throughout
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Occupation/profession Resident in health board area Argyll and Clyde health board Chairman Mr. R. Reid Farmer Yes Non-executive members Mr. M. Jones Company director Yes Mrs. E. Lander Company director Yes Mrs. J. Le Roux Housewife Yes Dr. J. Moffat Retired consultant psychiatrist Yes Mrs. S. Nelson Primary school teacher Yes Mr. C. Parker Company director Yes Royal Alexandra Hospital National Health Service Trust Chairman Mr. T. Gibson Former hospice director Yes Non-executive directors Mrs. A. Burns Housewife Yes Mr. A. Durward Retired chief executive Yes Mrs. M. Ford Housewife Yes Mr. A. Gaunt Retired commandant, Erskine hospital Yes Mr. G. Murray Retired locomotive driver Yes Great Britain, particularly in the areas of recreation, conservation and research. This information is not held centrally and could be prepared only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish details of any offers to purchase the assets of the Forestry Commission which have been received by the review body; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Hector MonroThe Forestry Review Group, established on 30 March 1993 by my right hon. Friend and his forestry Minister colleagues, has not received any offers to purchase assets owned by the Forestry Commission.