§ Mr. William Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what acreage of land has been purchased by the Department of Agriculture in each of the last 10 years for afforestation purposes; what was the reserve acreage in each of those years and at the present time; and how much of the reserve lands is in each county.
§ Dr. BoysonThe area acquired for afforestation and the plantable reserves in each of the past 10 years are set out below.
It is not possible to relate precisely acquisitions and new planting with the plantable reserve, for example acquisitions include unplantable and planted land as well as plantable land; some land is classified as unplantable on economic grounds due to its size and location but it will become plantable when adjoining land is acquired.
Areas acquired by Department of Agriculture from 1974 to 1984 (Hectares) Financial Year Area (Hectares) 1974–75 2,331 1975–76 1,250 1976–77 548 1977–78 445 1978–79 468 1979–80 1,162 1980–81 743 1981–82 294 1982–83 686 1983–84 424 Note: The above figures include those areas managed by the Departmenton behalf of other Government bodies.
Ireland in each of the last 10 years; and what has been the income from sales of forestry products by the Department in each of those years.
§ Dr. BoysonFollowing is the information:
211W
Department of Agriculture planting: Income from sales of forestry products Planting season New planting hectares Replanting hectares Total planting hectares Financial year £'000 1974–75 1,063 300 1,363 1974–75 651 1975–76 998 174 1,172 1975–76 434 1976–77 968 182 1,150 1976–77 506 1977–78 945 275 1,220 1977–78 814 1978–79 715 280 995 1978–79 714 1979–80 714 374 1,088 1979–80 727 1980–81 641 274 915 1980–81 762 1981–82 720 352 1,072 1981–82 633 1982–83 638 523 1,161 1982–83 694 1983–84 619 409 1,028 1983–84 917