HC Deb 30 November 1967 vol 755 cc175-6W
Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many acres of trees have been planted in Scotland by the Forestry Commission in each year from 1960 to 1966; and how many are expected to be planted in each year from1967 to 1975.

Mr. Ross

The area of new planting in Scotland by the Forestry Commission from 1960 to 1966 was:

000s acres
1960 24
1961 26
1962 28
1963 27
1964 26
1965 30
1966 32

In the forest year 1967, which ended on 30th September, the Commission planted 33,000 acres. It expects to plant 34,000 acres in 1968 and 36,000 acres in 1969. It is too early to forecast the exact programmes for subsequent years, but planting will increase by stages to 50,000 acres a year by 1976.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give figures for employment in forestry in Scotland for the years 1963, 1964, 1965, and 1966; and what redundancies have taken place in 1967.

Mr. Ross

The industrial staff of the Forestry Commission in Scotland at 30th September in each year was:

1963 3,916
1964 3,794
1965 3,890
1966 3,796

Only one man has been discharged on grounds of redundancy in 1967.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hoppus feet of timber were produced in Scotland by the Forestry Commission in 1964, 1965, and 1966; and what percentage of this was felled by the Forestry Commission's own labour force.

Mr. Ross

The figures are shown in the following table:

1. 2
Volume of Timber Produced by the Forestry Commission in Scotland (million hoppus feet) Felled by Forestry Commission Labour Per cent.
1964 8.2 24
1965 9.6 29
1966 11.5 31

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