Earl of Dalkeithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what directions he gives to the Forestry Commission on the financial return to be expected from new planting; and to what extent the criteria he lays down take account of anticipated changes in the value of the mature crop resulting from inflation and a world shortage of available softwoods as predicted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation.
§ Mr. RossNo formal directions have been given to the commission on the financial return from new planting, since comercial considerations are not the sole criterion. The commission forecasts the196W rates of return on new planting at current costs and prices; forecasts of world timber supply are not taken into account in these calculations, but are among the factors taken into account in deciding the total size of the planting programme.
Earl of Dalkeithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that France plans to double her 30 million acres of land under forestry; and if he will initiate a study of the effects on the British economy and the balance of payments situation of increasing the existing three million acres of forestry land in the United Kingdom, and the rate at which expansion could take place.
§ Mr. RossI understand that a proposal to double the forestry planting programme in France has not so far been put into effect. Full account is taken of the effect on the economy and other relevant considerations in the periodic reviews which are made of the future rate of planting by the Forestry Commission.