Earl of Dalkeithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the land surface of Scotland is covered by productive woodlands; and how this percentage compares with the average figure for Europe as a whole but excluding the United Kingdom, from figures available to him from international sources.
Earl of Dalkeithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland in which of the four Forestry Commission regions in Scotland the afforestation programme is being curtailed by a shortage of land for acquisition; and by what acreage the 1969 planting programme has fallen behind schedule as a result.
§ Mr. RossAlthough the rate of acquisition of land is slower in some regions than in others the Forestry Commission's planting programme in Scotland has not fallen behind schedule.
Earl of Dalkeithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many acres of trees he estimates the Forestry Commission and the private sector, respectively, have planted in Scotland in the 1968–69 planting season.
§ Mr. RossDuring the 18 months ended 31st March, 1969, the latest period for which statistics are available, the Forestry Commission planted 43,100 acres in Scotland. It is estimated that the corresponding figure for the private sector was 23,500 acres.
Earl of Dalkeithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage 108W of the 1968 windblown timber has now been marketed by the Forestry Commission and the private sector, respectively.
§ Mr. RossAt 31st March, 1969, the latest date for which statistics are available, the figures were 46 per cent. and 51 per cent. respectively.
Earl of Dalkeithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the total sum of money voted by Parliament to the forestry industry since the formation of the Forestry Commission 50 years ago; what is the current valuation of Forestry Commission plantations; and how these figures compare with the sum spent in 1968 on importing timber in every form, including pulp and paper.
§ Mr. RossThe total sum voted by Parliament to the forestry industry, including grants to the private sector, at 31st March, 1969, was £234,088,000. The expectation value of Forestry Commission plantations in production at 31st March, 1969, was £69,000,000; the value of young plantations in the course of formation is not assessed. The cost of importing timber and amber products in 1968 was £643,000,000.