§ Mr. MacArthurasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he received the Windblow Action Group's Report on Hurricane Damage to Forestry; what recommendations it contained; and when he will make a statement on the matter.
§ Mr. RossI would refer the hon. Member to my answer on 26th March to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, North (Earl of Dalkeith) and to my statement yesterday.—[Vol. 762, c. 619–23.]
The Action Group recommended that:
- (i) an appeal should be made to all government departments, local authorities and wood using industries generally, to use as much home-grown timber as possible in the next two years;
- (ii) a transport subsidy should be given to enable timber to be moved beyond the normal economic limit;
- (iii) for the next 18 months, the level of felling in areas of Scotland unaffected by the windblow should be restricted by voluntary agreement; and that
- (iv) investment grants, or similar financial assistance, should be given to
157 the timber trade for harvesting, wood handling and forest processing machinery, within the windblown area.