HC Deb 09 July 1973 vol 859 cc286-7W
Mr. Elystan Morgan

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the future of the Forestry Commission in Wales.

Mr. Peter Thomas

Discussions are still in progress on the Government's consultative document published last year. As I told the hon. Member on 19th April the interests of Wales are being taken fully into account in these consultations.—[Vol. 855, c. 213.]

Mr. Elystan Morgan

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons are employed (a) full-time (b) part-time by the Forestry Commission in Wales.

Mr. Gibson-Watt

At 31st March 1973 the Forestry Commission had 1,538 full-time employees in Wales and 20 part-time.

Mr. Elystan Morgan

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much of the timber cut annually in Forestry Commission plantations in Wales is used in Wales for any manufacturing process.

Mr. Gibson-Watt

In the year ended 31st March 1973 the total amount of timber cut in the Forestry Commission's plantations in Wales was 300,000 cubic metres. About half was felled and sold directly by the Forestry Commission, and of this some 76,000 cubic metres was subsequently processed in Wales. The other half was sold as standing trees to timber merchants and information about its destination is not available.