§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there are plans to expand recreational facilities in the Forest of Dean.
§ Mr. StrangContinuing improvements are planned to existing facilities, including the provision of small car parks. The Forestry Commission also proposes to form a lake on a site yet to be decided and, subject to planning permission, to construct a picnic site at Edgehills.
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the revenues obtained from the recreational facilities in the Forest of Dean in 1977, 1976 and 1975.
§ Mr. StrangThe gross revenues from those facilities on which a commercial return is required are as follows:
£ 1975–76 56,900 1976–77 68,900 1977–78 31,800
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people used the recreational facilities in the Forest of Dean in 1977, 1976 and 1975.
§ Mr. StrangPrecise figures are available only for overnight campers and these are:
1975–76 156,040 1976–77 197,862 1977–78 193,730 The number of day visits is currently estimated to be about 750,000 a year.
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number of men employed in the Forest of Dean by the Forestry Commission.
§ Mr. StrangThe number has remained fairly stable over the past three years and at present is 127. This figure includes a small number of contractors.
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the value of wood cut in the Forest of Dean in 1977, 1976 and 1975.
§ Mr. StrangThe values were:
£ 1975–76 442,100 1976–77 610,200 1977–78 701,000