HC Deb 15 February 1985 vol 73 cc313-4W
Mr. Ron Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Forestry Commission has met representatives of local authorities in the United Kingdom since September 1984 to discuss broadleaves in Britain; and what changes in consultation procedures for felling licence and broadleaved woodland grant applications were discussed.

Mr. John MacKay

No, but representatives of local authority associations have been invited to the broadleaves in Britain seminar to be held in May.

Mr. Ron Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representatives from the Country Landowners Association, the Countryside Commission, the Countryside Commission for Scotland, the Institute of Chartered Foresters, the National Farmers Union, the Nature Conservancy Council, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and Timber Growers UK have been invited to attend the broadleaves in Britain seminar organised by the Forestry Commission for 8 May.

Mr. John MacKay

One representative has been invited from each of these bodies except for the Nature Conservancy Council and Timber Growers UK, which have been invited to send two.

Mr. Ron Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the Forestry Commission has restricted its invitations to the seminar on broadleaves in Britain on 8 May to only 22 organisations; and why many of those organisations have been invited to send only a single representative.

Mr. John MacKay

The Forestry Commission has been concerned to keep the numbers of persons attending the seminar within manageable proportions in order to ensure a constructive discussion. It has, however, extended its list of invited organisations to 27.

Mr. Ron Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria the Forestry Commission used in deciding which conservation groups should be invited to the seminar on 8 May at which it will present its revised policies on broadleaves in Britain.

Mr. John MacKay

Given the need to restrict the numbers attending the seminar, the criterion was to select bodies which would provide a balanced representation of conservation interest.

Mr. Ron Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria the Forestry Commission's working group on broadleaves in Britain used in deciding which non-governmental organisations it would consult privately before presenting its revised policies in May.

Mr. John MacKay

The Forestry Commission's working group has had meetings with such non-government organisations as it felt necessary to consult over particular aspects of its developing policy proposals.

Mr. Ron Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether representatives of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland have met the Forestry Commission since September 1984 to discuss broadleaves in Britain and its revision of policies for broadleaved woodlands.

Mr. John MacKay

No, but officials have been in regular contact and a meeting has been arranged for later this month to discuss this matter.