§ Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what percentage of the land area of Scotland is at present under afforestation in the private sector; and what were the corresponding figures for the past 10 years;
(2) what percentage of the land area of Scotland is at present under afforestation in the public sector; and what were the corresponding figures for the last 10 years.
§ Mr. Hugh D. BrownThe land area under afforestation in Scotland in the public and private sectors, now and for the last 10 years, as a percentage of the total land area, is set out in the table below:
Year ending 31st March Forestry Commission Private Sector per cent. per cent. 1966–67(A) 4.3 4.5 1967–69(B) 4.5 4.5 1970 4.7 4.6 1971 4.9 4.7 1972 5.1 4.9 1973 5.3 5 1974 5.5 4.7(C) 1975 5.7 4.9 1976 5.9 5 (A) Year ending 30th September 1967. (B) 18-month period (1st October 1967 to 31st March 1969). (c) This apparent fall in area was due to a change in the definition of woodlands for the purpose of forestry statistics.