§ Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many employees were employed, in Scotland, by the Forestry Commission in 1970, 1975, 1980, and at the most recent available date; and if he will categorise them by type of work.
§ Mr. Younger[pursuant to his reply, 7 April 1982, c. 395]: The information is given in the following table: 84W
Forestry Commission Employees in Scotland 1970 1975* 1980 1981 Non-Industrial: Senior Staff† 1 9 10 10 Professional Forestry Staff 69 88 82 81 Foresters (local supervisory staff) 425 367 362 359 Land Agents and Clerks of Works (Estate) 20 26 27 27 Engineers (Civil and Mechanical) 53 54 67 64 Cartographers 10 29 29 30 Administrative/Office Staff‡ 214 428 397 400 Scientists 24 24 24 23 Non-Industrial Total 816 1,025 998 994 Industrial: Forestry Workers 2,297 1,992 2,065 1,893 Engineering (Civil and Mechanical) and Estate Workers 535 412 437 429 Industrial Total 2,832 2,404 2,502 2,322 Grand Total All Staff 3,648 3,429 3,500 3,316 Notes:
*Some 300 HQ staff were transferred to Edinburgh when the Forestry Commission headquarters was moved from England to Scotland in 1974–75.
†Excludes the chairman and part-time commissioners.
‡Includes executive and clerical staff, messengers, telephonists and so on.
§ Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the Forestry Commission's harvesting programme in Scotland over the next decade in terms of volume; and what the value will be in cash terms at current prices.
§ Mr. Younger[pursuant to his reply, 7 April 1982, c. 395]: The Forestry Commission's harvesting programme is based on a forecast of production which is updated every five years, the current programme being based on a 1977 forecast which is due to be revised later this year. The 1977 forecast provided estimates of average annual production for each of the four quinquennia to 1996, and the relevant data for Scotland for the next decade are as follows:
million cubic metres (over bark) Operation 1982–86 1987–91 Thinning 0.62 0.76 Clear Felling 0.54 0.78 Total 1.16 1.54 Over the past three or four years prices for British timber have fluctuated markedly, reflecting variations in world prices for wood and wood products. The total volume harvested by the commission in Scotland for the year ended 31 March 1982 is expected to have been 1.1 million cubic metres, giving an income of about £15 million—inclusive of VAT. Over the next decade income is expected to increase in line with the production forecast, but the production levels actually achieved and the income realised will depend on market conditions.
§ Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report details of the Forestry Commission's new planting programme for Scotland for each year over the next decade.
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§ Mr. Younger[pursuant to his reply, 7 April 1982, c. 395]: New planting by the Forestry Commission in Scotland for the next decade is currently estimated as follows:
Year ending 31 March Hectares 1982–83 8,300 1983–84 7,000 1984–85 5,600 1985–86 4,700 1986–87 and thereafter not less than 4,500 These estimates are, of course, reviewed from time to time.
§ Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current capital value of (a) land in Scotland owned by the Forestry Commission; and (b) the trees on Forestry Commission plantations in Scotland.
§ Mr. Younger[pursuant to his reply, 7 April 1982, c. 395.]: The estimated capital value of the land held in Scotland at 31 March 1981, expressed at October 1981 prices, was £187,923,000. The estimated value of trees was £291,218,000.
§ Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current area of Forestry Commission plantations in Scotland; what proportion of this area is covered by mature forest; what is the projected total area under plantation in Scotland over the next 10 years; and what proportion of this total is intended to be covered by mature forest.
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§ Mr. Younger[pursuant to his reply, 7 April 1982, c. 395.]: The area of the Forestry Commission's plantations in Scotland at 31 March 1981, the latest date for which figures are available, was 511,600 hectares.
Commercial plantations may be said to have matured when they have reached the most economic age for felling, and this varies according to species and rates of growth. It is the commission's normal practice to clear fell at this stage of development and it is estimated that some 21,000 hectares will be clear felled over the next 10 years.
Over the same period the estimated area under plantations will rise to some 570,200 hectares, all of which it is intended to grow to maturity as I have defined it. This figure, however, includes such plantations as may be sold under the provisions of the Forestry Act 1981.
§ Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total estimated net gain, or loss, each year over the next decade, of planted Forestry Commission land in Scotland, taking the proposed planting and harvesting programmes in Scotland into account.
§ Mr. Younger[pursuant to his reply, 7 April 1982, c. 395]: The area of the commission's planted land in Scotland is expected to increase over the next decade in accordance with the new planting referred to in the reply given to the right hon. Member's question about the new planting programme. Information on sales of plantations under the Forestry Act 1981 cannot be given on a year-to-year basis for this period.
Clear felled areas are normally restocked quickly and for record purposes continue to be classified as plantations.