§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will study the possibilities of establishing a medium-sized pulp mill in central Wales to deal primarily with the wood produced by Forestry Commission woodlands in the area;
(2) if he will require the Forestry Commission not to enter into long-term contracts with buyers from their woodlands in Wales in such a way as to prejudice the possible establishment of a pulp mill in Wales.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesMy hon. Friend will appreciate that the question of establishing a pulp mill in Wales is a matter for the industry itself. The Forestry Commission have however looked at this problem from time to time 269W and my hon. Friend may recall that in a reply given to him on 12th August, 1966—[Vol. 733, c. 475]—the Commission's view was that the existing 270W timber using industries in Wales are capable of expansion to absorb all the increasing production from Welsh forests in the foreseeable future.