§ Mr. Lathamasked the Prime Minister whether she will define the responsibilities of the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for matters relating to forestry and woodland, including diseases affecting trees.
§ The Prime MinisterThe powers of forestry Ministers are set out in the Forestry Act 1967. The main powers enable them to buy land for use by the forestry commissioners and to manage and dispose of such land, and to direct the forestry commissioners in the exercise of their functions under that Act and under the Plant Health Act 1967. The forestry commissioners are the competent authority under the Plant Health Act 1967 for the control of timber pests and diseases.
My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Wales exercise their responsibilities for forestry and woodland matters in relation to Scotland, England and Wales respectively. General policy questions and those relating to Great Britain as a whole are normally dealt with by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.