§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans there are to publish the results of the research on aluminium mobilisation, commissioned by the Forestry Commission and the Department of the Environment with the Macaulay Institute of Soil Research, Aberdeen; what results the Foresty Commission has obtained in analysing the aluminium content of certain stands of stichless spruce growing in the south Wales coalfield; and if he will give the location of each study.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe research by the Macaulay Institute, the field part of which is being carried out at Loch Fleet in Galloway and Fetteresso in Grampian region, is only in its second year and results are not yet available. The Forestry Commission's work on sitka spruce is taking place in the Afan forest district, south Wales, and the indications so far are that the poor growth in some stands is due to a combination of climatic stress and infestation by green spruce aphis, rather than to aluminium toxicity.