§ Lieut.-Colonel POWNALLasked the Minister of Health how much it is intended to spend on afforestation in the current financial year; and how many men will be employed on such work?
§ Mr. ACLANDI have been asked to take over this question. The Estimates of the Forestry Commissioners for the current financial year provide for gross expenditure of £399,300, of which£325,595 is allocated to "Forestry Operations" and "Advances for Afforestation Purposes." It is estimated that the average number of men to be employed during the year will be approximately 3,000, the number in the winter being greatly in excess of the number in the summer.
§ Mr. LAMBERTasked the right hon. Member for Tiverton, as representing the 442W Forestry Commissioners, who are the commissioners responsible for the expenditure on afforestation?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe Forestry Commissioners are collectively responsible for expenditure on afforestation financed from the Forestry Fund.
§ Sir A. SINCLAIRasked the right hon. Member for Tiverton, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether, in view of the unemployment and distress in the Northern and Western Highlands, the operations of his Department have been extended in Caithness and Sutherland since July last year; and, if so, how many acres have now been planted under the auspices of the Forestry Commission, and what further extensions or new schemes are now in contemplation in each county?
§ Mr. ACLAND826 acres have now been planted by the Forestry Commission at Borgie, Sutherland, and 2,464 acres at their six centres in the Western Highlands; planting will be resumed next season. During last winter additional work in relief of unemployment was provided on all these areas. No new areas have been acquired in the two counties named, as the land offered was unsuitable in quality or extent or the terms were unacceptable. The Commissioners are prepared to consider any reasonable offers of land suitable for planting. Grants to corporate bodies and others for afforestation schemes in relief of unemployment were availahle during last winter.