50. Earl of Dalkeithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the import saving potential of an average acre of hill land in Scotland, suitable for both sheep farming and forestry, respectively, averaged over a 50-year period at constant prices; and on how many acres of land he estimates the import saving potential would be not less than 25 per cent. greater under forestry than under farming.
§ Mr. RossThe annual current import saving potential of an acre of hill land used for agriculture might be estimated at around £3 per acre compared with £12 per acre for the same land used in forestry averaged over 50 years. In theory most of this land would come within the category described in the second part of the Question, but in practice the area to be used for forestry has to be considered in the light of a wider range of factors.