FORESTRY DEDICATION SCHEME (Hansard, 28 July 1949)

§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (THE EARL or HUNTINGDON)

The Government has been much concerned at the slow progress that is being made in the rehabilitation of private woodlands and consequently has been reconsidering the Dedication Scheme, and the problems of private forestry in general. A recent census shows that there are about 2,800,000 acres of private woodlands in Great Britain, of which it is estimated that about 2,300,000 arcres are capable of economic management. Of these 2,300.000 acres, about 1,000,000 require replanting.

It is essential in the national interest that all suitable areas should be replanted with the minimum of delay, and that the management of woodlands should in the fullest sense be a joint enterprise of the State and the woodland owners. But on present indications the owners who have dedicated or who are preparing to dedicate their woodlands are only a small minority of the whole. The Government has, therefore, considered further measures to secure the co-operation of private woodland owners.

It is manifestly impossible to deal with a long-term venture such as forestry in the same way as agriculture, and it is not feasible to guarantee prices for the many categories of timber which may be felled over the next fifty to a hundred years. The Government, however, recognises that a healthy and stable forest industry is an essential part of the national economy, and proposes to review the economics of British forestry at convenient intervals in consultation with woodland owners and the timber trade. The State itself has a large and rapidly increasing stake in the forest industry, and owners who are anxious about the future prosperity of the industry should keep that fact prominently in mind.

A subsidy of 3d. per cubic foot on thinnings was recently introduced, and at the present time the Government is considering, the whole question of standing timber prices. In the meantime, it is proposed to increase the planting grant from £10 to £12 per acre and the maintenance grant (where applicable) from 3s. 4d. to 4s. per acre. These figures will operate until October, 1951, when a general review will be made.

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As regards the dedication agreements, it is proposed to amend the perpetuity clause so as to permit release from dedication in certain exceptional circumstances, and to remit the obligation to submit accounts under Basis II, but woodlands owners will be invited to submit annual accounts for analysis, as is now done in the case of farm accounts. In the event of a dispute arising on the question whether work has been done satisfactorily, the matter will be referred to an independent investigation committee which will report to the Forestry Commissioners, with whom the final decision, however, must rest.

The Forestry Commission have also under consideration certain steps for encouraging co-operation among woodland 702WA owners and for improving the utilisation of forest produce. The Government feels that these arrangements will be of material benefit to private woodland owners. Where woodland areas requiring rehabilitation are neither under active consideration for dedication nor receiving adequate treatment, the Forestry Commissioners will, where necessary, have to acquire these woodlands. It is hoped, however, that the majority of owners will recognise the national need for making woodlands fully productive and will cooperate to that end with the Forestry Commission.

House adjourned at twenty-eight minutes before seven o'clock.