§ Mr. David MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is his most recent estimate of the area of genuinely native pinewood in Scotland that is owned by the Forestry Commission; and how this has changed since the definitive survey by Steven and Carlisle, published in 1959;
(2) what is his most recent estimate of the area of genuinely native pinewood in Scotland; how this has changed since the definitive survey by Steven and Carlisle, published in 1959; and what were the principal causes of these changes.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThere are some 12,500 hectares of native pinewood in Scotland, of which the Forestry Commission manages about 2,500 hectares. It is not possible to say how this has changed since 1959 as the survey by Steven and Carlisle was not undertaken in a way which enabled areas to be measured.
§ Mr. David MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when the Forestry Commission expects to complete its first register of native pinewoods;
(2) what plans the Forestry Commission has to monitor the extent and nature of changes to the native pinewoods in Scotland following the announcement of the new grants arrangements; and what plans it has to monitor the progress of this part of the woodland grant scheme.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe Forestry Commission's register of native pinewoods will be an open one to which qualifying pinewoods will be added as further evidence becomes available. The commission anticipates that the main areas of native pinewoods will be registered in the next six months.
Entries on the register will be reviewed periodically which will enable the extent and nature of any changes to be determined. The commission collects detailed information on all proposals made under the woodland grant scheme, and this includes any applications for grants for native pinewoods.
§ Mr. David MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans the Forestry Commission has to restore and regenerate native pinewoods in its ownership; whether the commission has set an area target and timescale for this work; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe Forestry Commission will follow its recently published "Guidelines for the Management of Native Pinewoods" in managing its own native pinewoods. Management is a continuous process and the commission has not therefore considered it appropriate to commit itself to target areas or timescales.