HC Deb 02 February 1968 vol 757 cc445-7W
Mr. MacArthur

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further estimate he has made of the total cost to agriculture, forestry, and horticulture, including consequential losses, caused by the recent hurricane.

Mr. Ross

I cannot yet make a firm estimate of the damage to agriculture, horticulture and forestry. The immediate need is for my Department to deal urgently with all applications for grant under the Farm Improvement and Horticulture Improvement Schemes. At a later date it will be possible to indicate the amount of work grant-aided under these schemes. It will be some time before a reliable estimate can be made of the damage to woodlands on both Forestry Commission and private properties.

Mr. MacArthur

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek to set up a national disaster fund to provide low interest loans for farmers, horticulturists, woodland proprietors, and householders who suffered severe losses during the recent hurricane.

Mr. Ross

No.

Earl of Dalkeith

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what assessment he has made of the devastation suffered in Scottish woodlands during the recent hurricane and if he will make a statement on the action he will take to hasten the recovery of this import-saving industry;

(2) whether he will introduce a temporary transport subsidy for the movement of timber salvaged from Scottish woodlands stricken by the recent hurricane, so as to enable it to be put to the best import-saving use by industries in areas that are normally beyond the economic range of such supplies.

Mr. Ross

I would refer the noble Lord to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Fife, East (Sir J. Gilmour) on 31st January.—[Vol. 757, c.229.]

Earl of Dalkeith

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the supply of pulpwood timber to the Fort William pulp mills will be severely disrupted by the diversion of the forestry labour force in Scotland to clearing up the mill-sized timber blown down in the recent hurricane; and whether he will take steps to enable supplies to be supplemented from areas outside the normal economic radius of these mills and thus eliminate the need for them to purchase imported timber.

Mr. Ross

I have no reason at present to believe that the supply of pulpwood to the Fort William pulp mill will be disrupted.

Earl of Dalkeith

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will direct the Forestry Commission to limit the sale of mill-sized timber from woodlands unaffected by the recent hurricane in Scotland so as to maintain price stability in the home timber market until such time as the produce salvaged from devastated woodlands has been disposed of.

Mr. Ross

I have no power, either directly or through the Forestry Commission, to intervene in the sale of timber from private estates. The Forestry Commission has the noble Lord's point very much in mind in relation to its own forests but will have to take into account its existing commitments and the interests of the forestry economy as a whole.

Mr. Edward M. Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will make a further statement on the hurricane damage in Scotland and if he has now reviewed the proposed reduction of house building approvals in light of the reports he has received on hurricane damage.

Mr. Ross

Further statements will be made as necessary. Consent to build houses to replace those lost in the storm will not be refused.