§ 57. Mr. Burdenasked the Minister of Agriculture why, after 33 years of experience, the Forestry Commission is expected to lose £6,559,000 in the current year.
§ Sir T. DugdaleIt would be wrong to regard the sum referred to as a loss. It is the grant-in-aid for the current year and includes not only the net cost of maintaining the Committee's existing assets and the cost of administering the control of felling, but also the investment in new plantations, land and buildings, and expenditure on research and education and on assistance to private woodland owners. All such expenditure is essential to carry out the Government's forestry policy.