Marine Biology

HC Deb 05 December 1988 vol 143 cc44-7W

Mr. Wray

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the main research projects on marine biology carried out in the North sea by Scottish research institutes and laboratories for each year since 1974; and if he will list those projects.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Information in the form requested is not collected or held by the Department. Details of research carried out by the DAFS marine laboratory, Aberdeen, have been given in its triennial reports for the period 1973–84 and annual reports for 1985–86 and 1986–87. I am arranging for copies of these reports to be placed in the Library.

Mr. Wray

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is, for each year since 1974, the amount of public funds given to the Scottish Marine Biology Association and its laboratory at Dunstaffnage.

(2) what is the number of staff in full-time and part-time jobs in the marine laboratory at Dunstaffnage for each year since 1975.

Mr.Jackson

I have been asked to reply.

The information is as follow:

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The Government's target has not yet been met. However, some 29,000 hectares of new planting was achieved in the year to 31 March 1988, and the figure for the current year is expected to be of the same order.

Mrs. Margaret Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps the Government are taking to ensure that long-term confidence in both the forestry and wood processing industries is not adversely affected by low planting levels.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The Government have made clear their continued support for the expansion of the forestry industry, and substantial grants are available under the woodland grant scheme and the farm woodland scheme. A close watch will be kept on planting trends.

Mrs. Margaret Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps the Government are taking to ensure that the 70,000 hectares estimated by the Forestry Commission to have been cleared for planting under the previous taxation/grants scheme will be fully utilised.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Under the transitional arrangements announced on 15 March 1988 by my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, tax reliefs will continue to be available until 1993 in respect of planting approved under those Forestry Commission grant schemes which have been closed to new applications. The amount of such planting that actually takes place will depend on the decisions of a large number of individual landowners.

Mrs. Margaret Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list the total number of hectares:(a) approved for planting under the woodland grant scheme in each of the Forestry Commission conservancy areas and (b) awaiting approval for planting under the woodland grant scheme.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The information is as follows, covering the period from the 15 June 1988, when the woodland grant scheme was first opened to applications, to 31 October 1988:

Conservancy	Area approved for planting (including replanting) under the Scheme (hectares)	Area awaiting approval for planting (including replanting)under the Scheme (hectares)
North England	207	1,366
East England	106	3,055
West England	226	1,330
Wales	302	675
North Scotland	2,262	5,727
Mid Scotland	751	2,894
South Scotland	344	4,782
Totals	4,198	19,829

Mrs. Margaret Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the Environmental Assessment (Afforestation) Regulations 1988 (S.I. 1988 No. 1207) on applications for grant aid for new forestry planting.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

An environmental assessment is intended to provide information that will be helpful in deciding on the likely effects of a forestry proposal on the environment, and the need for one should not be taken as indicating a presumption against afforestation. The number of assessments called for is unlikely to be large, and the regulations are not expected to have a significant effect on the level of applications for planting grants.

Mrs. Margaret Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the Government's main objectives contained in the report forwarded to the European Commission in terms of Council regulation (EEC) No. 3528/86.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Reports are submitted annually by member states to enable the European Commission to obtain a picture of tree health throughout the Community, and to provide data on a consistent basis for the situation to be monitored from year to year.

Mrs. Margaret Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total amount of hectares of forest lost or damaged by(a) atomospheric pollution and (b) natural phenomena since 1980 in each of the Forestry Commission conservancy areas.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

(a) The Forestry Commission has conducted nationwide surveys of forests since 1984 in order to assess tree health in relation to air pollution. The surveys rely mainly on the criterion of "crown density" as a measure of tree condition because no loss of forest areas has been observed in Britain which can be ascribed specifically to air pollution. The results of the latest surveys are contained in a report which was published by the Commission on 1 December copies of which are being placed in the Library of the House.

(b) Certain insects can damage forest trees. by far the largest cause of loss being the pine beauty moth which has killed or severely damaged 263 hectares of Lodgepole pine in North Scotland Conservancy since 1980. Wind damage is another cause of tree loss, but the only significant forest windblow since 1980 has been in East. England Conservancy where some 16,000 hectares of woodland were blown down by the October 1987 storm.

Mrs. Margaret Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the environmental safeguards which apply to the location of forestry, as stated in his reply to the hon. Member for Dumfries, Official Report, 17 March, columns 670-1.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The Forestry Commission's woodland grant scheme places emphasis on the need for planting to be carried out in an environmentally sensitive way. Applicants are required to give proper attention to landscaping, wildlife conservation, the management of water courses and the protection of ancient monuments, as appropriate. Every planting proposal is carefuly scrutinised by the Forestry Commission with such aspects in mind, and the existing consultation arrangements also provide a safeguard, particularly for areas of special environmental importance. In addition, the Commission may call for an environmental assessment for those proposals which they consider are likely to have a significant effect on the environment.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the arrangements whereby the Forestry Commission pays the domestic rates of its tied cottages; and if he will make a statement.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The Forestry Commission follows the Civil Service pay and conditions code in the rent charged for its key houses (tied cottages). These rents include an element to cover general and water rates. Tenants of key houses pay a standard rent in respect of their tenancy and the commission pays the general and water rates.