§ Mr. Gowerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what extensions he contemplates in the work of the Forestry Commission and what information he has of the development of private forests in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsThe Forestry Commission hope to maintain their current rate of new planting in Wales, which is of the order of 9,000 acres262W annually, for some years to come. Private planting in Wales in recent years has been at the rate of about 3,500 acres annually. Some 53,000 acres of private woodlands are in the Forestry Commission's dedication and approved woodlands schemes.
In his statement on forestry policy on 24th July this year my right hon. Friend explained that the Forestry Commission would continue to concentrate on acquiring land in the upland areas where the expansion of forestry can bring considerable social and employment benefits.