HC Deb 24 October 1986 vol 102 cc1027-8W
Mr. Steel

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make data available on projected future output levels of timber, classified by major forests in the Scottish Borders.

Mr. Rifkind

For the three Forestry Commission forest districts of Lothian and Tweed, Borders and Lockerbie, the forecast of average annual timber production is as follows:

Cubic metres
Period Lothian and Tweed Borders Lockerbie Total
1987–1991 40,000 86,000 54,000 180,000
1992–1996 58,000 118,000 77,000 253,000
1997–2001 103,000 98,000 83,000 284,000

It is not possible to forecast accurately the production from privately owned forests, but the equivalent figures for the whole of the private sector in the Forestry Commission's south Scotland conservancy are as follows:

cubic metres
1987–1991 306,000
1992–1996 424,000
1997–2001 598,000