§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of forest planted by the Forestry Commission in Scotland is hardwood; and what percentages of the hardwood planted are oak, beech, ash, sycamore, elm, chestnut and walnut, respectively, year by year since 1970.
§ Mr. Hugh D. BrownThe total woodland area under Forestry Commission
Percentage Year ending September Number of trees planted Oak Beech sycamore Ash Other 1970 … … 63,000 14.3 28.5 28.5 — 28.7 1971 … … 76,000 14.5 10.5 15.8 — 59.2 1972 … … 62,000 6.5 14.5 21.0 1.6 56.4 1973 … … 147,500 10.2 20.3 20.3 4.7 44.5 1974 … … 92,700 5.6 12.8 4.1 — 77.5 1975 … … 188,000 12.2 15.2 18.7 0.9 53.0 1976 … … 168,700 27.0 12.4 13.2 0.1 45.3 1977 … … 304,000 9.5 9.2 4.6 — 76.7
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements are being made by the Forestry Commission, in co-operation with local authorities and the Scottish Development Agency, to plant trees on derelict and disused land, now and in the future.
§ Mr. Hugh D. BrownDiscussions are held as necessary at local level involving
416Wto that provided for 1976–77 by the Under-Secretary of State in reply to the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Welsh) Official Report, 12th July 1977, columns 42–4.
§ Mr. McElhoneFollowing is the information:
management in Scotland is approximately 440,000 hectares of which about 1.6 per cent. comprises hardwoods. The number of harwood trees planted by the Commission in Scotland since 1970, together with the percentages of oak, beech, sycamore and ash, are given in the following table. Figures showing the proportion of elm, chestnut and walnut planted are not readily available as they are included with such species as alder, birch and rowan under "other".
the Forestry Commission, local authorities, the Scottish Development Agency and other interested organisations on the amenity aspects of tree planting. A major current example is in connection with the report of the steering group of the central Scotland woodlands project which deals specifically with planting on derelict and disused land. This project is still in its infancy and much will depend on the co-operation of individual land owners.
417W
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if planting of trees in Scotland has increased or decreased in the current year, both in the public and private sectors of forestry.
§ Mr. Hugh D. BrownIn the year ended 31st March 1978, new planting in the public and private sectors amounted to approximately 12,200 hectares and 4,900 hectares respectively—a reduction of 900 hectares and 1,100 hectares compared with the previous 12 months. Figures are not yet available for the current year.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the policy of the Government is to support a common European forestry policy.
§ Mr. Hugh D. BrownThere is no common forestry policy as such within the EEC—principally because wood and wood products are not listed in the Treaty of Rome—but the Government would give serious consideration, in the light of the interests of British forestry, to any proposals that might be put forward by the European Commission.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what trees are replanted most frequently on the site of recently felled elms; and what are the recommendations of the Forestry Commission in this connection.
§ Mr. Hugh D. BrownInformation on the species being planted in place of felled elms is not available since diseased elms are the responsibility of the owners, and neither local authorities nor the Forestry Commission have the authority to enforce replanting. The Commission has published a leaflet on "Replacement of Elm in the Countryside" which lists various replacements for elm to suit different conditions. I shall send a copy to the hon. Member.