Farm Land (Purchase)

HC Deb 09 March 1978 vol 945 c743W

21. Mr. Dunlop

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the criterion for the purchase of farm land by the Forestry Commission.

Mr. Dunn

The criteria for the purchase of land by the Department of Agriculture (Northern Ireland) for the forest service are that:

1. 1. The land should be capable of producing a commercial crop of timber.
2. 2. It should be of low agricultural productivity.
3. 3. It must be freely offered for sale by the vendor.
4. 4. The price paid falls within a valuation figure calculated to provide an acceptable financial return on the long-term forest investment.