HC Deb 02 December 1947 vol 445 cc53-4W
Mr. Watkins

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will give the planting programme of the Forestry Commission for each of the Welsh Counties for 1947 and 1948; how much land in Wales has been acquired since the end of the war; and how much will be acquired in the next three years.

Mr. T. Williams

The Planting programme is:

County. 1947 1948
acres. acres.
Anglesey 272 320
Brecon 980 1,180
Caernarvon 637 380
Cardigan 440 740
Carmarthen 1,096 1,660
Denbigh 357 610
Flint 100
Glamorgan 1,209 1,670
Merioneth 362 530
Monmouth 401 260
Montgomery 1,076 1,620
Radnor 420 480
Pembroke
7,250 9,550

Acquisitions;

Since the cessation of hositilities 6,560 acres have been acquired in Wales and another 24,518 acres are in process of acquisition. It is proposed to acquire a further 99,000 acres in the course of the next three years.

Mr. Watkins

asked the Minister of Agriculture what acreage of their own woodland the Forestry Commission have re-planted since the end of the war.

Mr. T. Williams

The following acreages of Forestry Commission land have been re-afforested during the last two planting seasons:

—— 1945–46. 1946–47. Total.
acres. acres. acres.
England 2,702 4,385 7,087
Wales 375 972 1,347
Scotland 1,487 3,337 4,824
4,564 8,694 13,258

In conifer areas, where insect pests are present, it is usually necessary to wait for a period of three to four years before replanting.