HC Deb 29 February 1996 vol 272 cc695-6W
Mr. Hardy

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what study he has undertaken of schemes for the encouragement of forestry in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Ireland; and what has been the contribution made to the increase in forestry in Ireland from EC funds. [17415]

Mr. Kynoch

The Forestry Commission undertook a comprehensive review of the incentives for forestry investment in Britain in 1994. The EC reimburses up to 75 per cent. of the cost of planting grants in objective 1 areas. My right hon. Friend, however, has no responsibility for forestry in the Republic of Ireland.

Mr. Hardy

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the net change in afforested areas in(a) England and Ireland and (b) Scotland in each of the last 10 years. [17416]

Mr. Kynoch

The areas afforested in England and Scotland in each of the last 10 years are as follows. My right hon. Friend, however, has no responsibility for forestry in the Republic of Ireland. The area of woodland converted to other land uses each year is not recorded.

Thousands hectares
England Scotland
1986 1.3 21.5
1987 1.4 22.4
1988 2.0 25.8
1989 2.0 26.4
1990 3.7 15.3
1991 4.4 14.1
1992 4.2 12.6
1993 5.3 12.1
1994 6.2 10.5
1995 5.1 13.4

Mr. Hardy

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland by what proportion the areas devoted to

Table 1: SPS staffing as at 31 March each year 1991–1995
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
Establishment Uniformed Civilian Uniformed Civilian Uniformed Civilian Uniformed Civilian Uniformed Civilian
Aberdeen 122 13 124 11 137 10 131 6 114 8
Barlinnie 519 18 538 22 558 17 513 15 452 21
Castle Huntly 69 3 78 4 82 6 73 6 70 3
Cornton Vale 181 9 180 9 191 13 184 15 166 11
Dumfries 129 12 150 12 147 14 145 15 133 13
Dungavel 64 5 69 7 75 7 73 6 67 10
Edinburgh 373 10 385 10 424 8 411 8 381 11
Friarton 48 2 52 3 54 2 49 2 40 3
Glenochil 406 18 417 19 441 17 430 23 388 28
Greenock 149 0 154 3 168 5 164 7 145 8
Inverness 89 7 83 6 95 6 90 7 64 5
Longriggend 153 4 163 7 170 7 163 7 149 8
Low Moss 131 6 141 7 165 5 150 6 146 12
Noranside 62 5 72 5 71 6 72 6 61 7
Penninghame 33 1 35 4 36 5 36 7 28 7
Perth 353 11 383 13 395 15 391 13 373 14
Peterhead 268 4 244 7 260 5 244 8 225 8
Polmont 267 16 295 18 312 14 301 18 283 17

forestry has changed in (a) the United Kingdom as a whole, (b) Northern Ireland (c) in Ireland over the last 10 years. [17417]

Mr. Kynoch

The area devoted to forestry in the United Kingdom has increased by 10 per cent. in the last 10 years. My right hon. Friend, however, has no responsibility for forestry in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland.