§ Major OWENasked the hon. Member for Monmouth, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, how many acres have been afforested or reafforested, and at what cost, by the Forestry Commissioners in Carnarvonshire and in the whole of Wales since November, 1919?
§ Mr. FORESTIER-WALKERFrom November, 1919, to September last the Forestry Commissioners planted 4,438 acres in Wales and Monmouth, including 1,137 acres in Carnarvonshire. The cost to the Commission of afforestation in Carnarvonshire has been £27,729. The corresponding figure for Wales (including Monmouth) is £74,127.
§ Mr. RILEYasked the hon. Gentleman the Member for Monmouth, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, if he can state the amount of land acquired, if any, for afforestation by the Forestry Com 1861W missioners during the year ending September, 1924; the total amount paid for such land and the average price per acre; the total sum expended by the Commissioners in the same period on afforestation; and the income, if any?
§ Mr. FORESTIER-WALKERApart from the Crown Woodlands amounting to approximately 120,000 acres which were transferred to the Forestry Commissioners under the Forestry Act, 1923, the land acquired by them during the year ended September, 1924, amounted to 34,704 acres, of which 14,115 were acquired by lease or feu and 20,589 by purchase. The average rent or feu duty amounted to approximately 1s. 4d. per acre per annum, and the average price for land purchased, including buildings and standing timber, was approximately £2 3s. 6d. per acre, or if the whole be allocated to plantable land 2s. 4d. and £3 13s. 6d. respectively. During the year ended September, 1924, the total sum expended by the Commissioners on afforestation amounted to £247,037 and the income to £90,698. The expenditure included, in addition to rent, rates, cultural and felling operations, supervision and overhead charges, etc., the purchase of certain assets, viz.: land, buildings, standing timber, etc.