§ Mr. David MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer on 15 January,Official Report, column 68, what consideration he has given to the report by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds on "Native Pinewoods in Scotland: A Review 1957–1987", and its assessment of the changes in the area of native pinewoods.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe Forestry Commission has studied this report, including its assessment of the changes in the area of native pinewoods. 113W The report proved useful in the preparation of the "Guidelines for the Management of Native Pinewoods" published by the commission last December.
§ Mr. David MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what area of the Black Wood of Rannoch has been cleared of previously underplanted alien conifers in the last 12 months; what area has been identified for such treatment in the Forestry Commission's conservation plan for this site; and what area will be restored in this manner in the next 12 months.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 19 February 1990]: Spruce and other non-native species have been planted on 169 hectares of formerly open ground in the Black Wood of Rannoch, mostly adjacent to the main wood. Under the Forestry Commission's conservation plan for the wood all these areas will be cleared over a period of years; 8 hectares have been cleared so far—3 in the past 12 months—and 20 hectares are scheduled for clearance in the next 12 months.