§ Sir A. Bossomasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much the Government had spent on afforestation, on hard and soft woods, between the two wars and since the last war, in Great Britain.
§ Sir A. Bossomasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the approximate total expended by the Government through any agencies between the two wars; and how much has been spent or provided by the Government on afforestation in Great Britain since the last war.
§ Mr. John HareThe reply to this Question and also to a similar Question which my hon. Friend addressed to my48W right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to which I have been asked to reply, is as follows:
The net expenditure out of the Forestry Fund in the periods November, 1919, to March, 1939, and April, 1946, to January, 1959, is given below. It is not possible to distinguish between expenditure on hardwoods and softwoods.
— 1919–20 to 1938–39 1946–47 to 1958–59 £ thousand £ thousand Expenditure Purchase of land, buildings and growing timber 1,930 4,220 Grants etc. to Private Woodland Owners 325 4,915 Other (e.g. administration, forestry operations, research) 9,725 104,490 Total 11,980 113,625 Receipts 2,570 26,565 Net 9,410 87,060