§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Forestry Commission will consult formally with the Nature Conservancy Council over its proposed plantings at Dyke/Strath Halladale and Tarnach Hill before any further plantings take place.
§ Mr. John MacKayYes.
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the proportion of coniferous and of broadleaved trees proposed to be planted in each of the forestry grant schemes approved in Sutherland and Caithness in each year from 1981 to date.
§ Mr. John MacKayThis information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. As the hon. Member will appreciate, conditions in this part of Scotland are generally unsuitable for growing broadleaved woodland. Under the Government's broadleaves policy, introduced in 1985, however, the Forestry Commission seeks to achieve a broadleaf element of at least 5 per cent. under the Forestry Grant Scheme and to encourage pure broadleaved planting under the broadleaved woodland grant scheme, subject to site conditions being appropriate.