§ Mr. David Howellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the cost to public funds in the current financial year of the Forest Research Station and the number of qualified scientists and engineers currently employed there; and if he will list the five most expensive projects on which the station is working, showing the cumulative cost of each to date and the cost of each in the current year.
§ Mr. John MackieThe provision for research in the Forestry Commission's estimates in the current financial year is £715,000.
The Commission employs 38 qualified scientists, engineers and graduate forest officers on research.
The five most expensive projects, and the estimated costs of each in the current year, are:
£ 1. Nutrition of forest and nursery crops 35,000 2. Production of planting stock 30,000 3. Site improvement by drainage and cultivation 25,000 4. Wind stability of crops 15,000 5. Improvement of Sitka Spruce 12,000 The cumulative costs to date of these projects are not available.