§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether consideration has been given to possible plantings of trees in the Falkland Islands; whether any assessment of suitable species has been made; whether, in particular, he has considered the tests conducted by the Forestry Commission on eucalyptus and Nothofagus species; and whether any assessment of the need for wind resistance as well as cold resistance has been made.
§ Mr. Neil MartenThe suitability of various species of tree, including Nothofagus, for planting in the Falkland Islands has been considered. As part of the future development of the islands, the prospects for tree planting will be studied and all relevant factors, including climatic conditions and work undertaken by the Forestry Commission, the Commonwealth Forestry Institution and other research organisations, will be taken into account.
§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in the Official Report existing Commonwealth Development Corporation projects in the Falkland Islands and Dependencies detailing the scope and funding of each project separately and if he will also list in a similar manner proposed projects there, which have not yet been commenced.
§ Mr. Neil MartenCDC has no current investments in the Falkland Islands and Dependencies. It was consulted informally by the authors of the recent Shackleton report. I have no doubt that it would be ready to consider proposals for commercially viable projects of a kind suited to its objectives, resources and experience.