65 and 66. Mr. Watkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture (1) how many compulsory orders have been issued to enable derelict woodlands to be acquired for the purpose of reafforestation in Wales; and the total acreage involved;
(2) how many compulsory purchase orders, under section four of the Forestry Act, 1945, have been issued to date; and the acreage involved for Wales.
Mr. T. WilliamsOnly one compulsory purchase order has been made under Section 4 of the Forestry Act, 1945; and the Forestry Commission was later offered the use of alternative land, and compulsory purchase was abandoned. Less than half an acre was involved. Draft orders have been deposited in three other cases on which public local inquiries either have been held or are being held and on which further proceedings are pending. The acreage involved in the draft orders is 11,807, including the 11,450 acres comprised in the Towy Valley Scheme. One of the draft Orders is in respect of derelict woodlands, and involves 354 acres.