§ Mr. SWANasked the hon. Member for Monmouth, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, the area of land that has been denuded of trees since 1914 in the county of Durham; what steps are being taken to replant by seedlings; what grants have been made to landowners in the county of Durham under the 2411W afforestation programme; and to whom and what the separate grants are?
§ Mr. FORESTIER-WALKERThe Forestry Commissioners have no in formation as to the area of privately-owned land that has been denuded of trees since 1914; their general information is to the effect that replanting is proceeding very slowly. They are, however, making a survey of woodlands in Great Britain, and this will be completed by 1925, when accurate information will be available. The Forestry Commissioners have no land in the county of Durham, but in the Commissioners of Woods' Chopwell area 125 acres have been cleared since 1914, of which 100 acres have been replanted to date. Applications by the following landowners in the county of Durham for grants in respect of2412W afforestation in relief of unemployment (Forestry Act, 1921) have been approved by the Commissioners on the basis of £3 an acre, but until the area actually planted has been ascertained by inspection it is not possible to state what grants will be made:
Name. Estate. Acreage. Ecclesiastical Commissioners. Heighington 15¼ Dean and Chapter of Durham. Shincliffe 8 Rt. Hon. Lord Barnard Raby 2 Consett Iron Co., Ltd. Consett 48½ Mr. F. Fenwick Wolsingham Park. 68 Total 141¾