Major WOODasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, as representing the Forestry Commmissioners, particulars of the cases, with the acreage 1639W involved, in which land has been acquired by the Forestry Commission, despite the fact that the Department of Agriculture in Scotland, having been consulted in terms of Section 3 of the Forestry Act, 1919, have expressed the view that such land should not be withdrawn from agricultural uses?
§ Mr. W. R. SMITHThe Forestry Commissioners invariably consult the Department of Agriculture for Scotland in accordance with Section 3 of the Forestry Act, 1919. Data in the precise form suggested in the question are not available. In no case, however, have the Commissioners withdrawn permanent pasture or arable land from agricultural uses except small areas for nursery purposes. Such land when acquired is used for forest workers' holdings or is transferred to the Department of Agriculture for small holdings purposes or remains farm land. On the other hand hill grazings are normally taken by the Commissioners for afforestation.