HC Deb 07 June 1984 vol 61 c278W
Mr. Cockeram

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will minimise the delay in the presentation to Parliament of the Forestry Commission annual report.

Mr. John MacKay

The delays in presenting the Forestry Commission's annual reports to Parliament over the last three years (1980–81, 1981–82 and 1982–83) have been due entirely to difficulties experienced in the preparation of the forestry enterprise accounts. These difficulties were not wholly within the commission's control. The timetable for the preparation of the accounts for the year 1983–84 should allow the next annual report to be presented to Parliament before Christmas 1984.