Hardwood and Softwood Thinnings (Hansard, 6 December 2001)

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty)

We are supporting research and development into technologies that might create new and better products using small and low-grade logs. There has been some success with gluing technology for small pieces of unseasoned hardwood and softwood species. In 1998 we commissioned a major market development study for softwood. This identified some potential for inward investment for a large-scale development to exploit long fibre spruce round wood. Unfortunately, there is little likelihood of attracting a large industrial plant for predominantly hardwood growing areas where woodlands are more dispersed, therefore solutions are more likely to be small scale. The Forestry Commission is working with other organisations, including the regional development agencies, to try to encourage the development of wood processing facilities.

We are also encouraging the development of the energy and heat market which will provide another important use for small hardwood and softwood timber. Wood-fuelled plants are already being used, for example, for small-scale industrial heating in rural areas. Both energy and heat production from wood can also benefit from the extra £100 million announced by the Prime Minister in June to support the development of renewable energy technologies.