HC Deb 02 May 1990 vol 171 cc583-7W
Mr. Barry Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many vehicles the Forestry Commission operates.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The Forestry Commission is currently operating 1,859 of its own road vehicles and 230 leased road vehicles.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the area of forestry plantations in Scotland which has been killed by pine beauty moth or pine sawfly since 1986; and if he will list the names of the plantations affected, their size, their dates of planting and the dates of the attack leading to the plantation death in each case.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Only two areas of forestry plantations of any size are known to have been killed by pine beauty moth or pine sawfly in Scotland since 1986. These were two hectares at Truderscaig which were planted in 1972–73 and attacked by pine beauty moth in 1987 and 1988, and 12 hectares at Poulary which were planted in 1967–68 and attacked by pine beauty moth in 1986. Both these areas are in Highland region.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the names, locations and areas of any further forestry grant applications since his answer of 22 March 1989,Official Report, columns 660–61 in excess of 100 hectares for which the Forestry Commission has not requested an environmental assessment.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The information is given in the following table:

Name and Region Area proposed for planting (ha)
Borders
North Hurdlaw 164
Heathpool 224
Ladhope 158
Central
Gartchonzie 171
Gartnafuaran 153
Muirhill 199
Dumfries and Galloway
Glenquicken 168
Loch Ree 328
Shilling Land 117
Ericstane 168
Grampian
Pluscarden 110
Tillypronie 200
Ballogie 132
Cowden 128
Christkirk 128
Craigs of Succoth 103
Bisset Moss 278
Smallburn 149
Boghaugh 134
Torry Hillock 136
Wraes 101
Highland
Coille am Sealbach 122
Coille Buidhe 122
Achlibster 291
Braelangwell 487
Loch Choire 1,396
Tacher 243
Astle 114
Ackron 270
Woodend 251
Greshornish 962
Wyvis 114
Glen Speireig 288
Loubcroy 388
Loubcroy 2 295
Orkney Isles
Melsetter Hill 215
Strathclyde
Brackley Hill 304
Cleughearn 186
Dalrazzie 104
Darley 524
Western Isles
Sollas 520

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the names, locations and areas of any plantings carried out by the Forestry Commission since July 1988 which are in excess of 100 hectares; and if he will list any proposed plantings for 1990–91 which are above this threshold.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The information is given in the tables:

Areas planted since July 1988
Forestry Commission Name of forest area Area planted (ha)
Forest District
Lome Achnafanich 269
Kintyre Glenskile 168
Perthshire Camserne 152
Ayrshire and Arran Auld Craigoch 107
Ayrshire and Arran Mossdale 236
Newton Stewart Arecleoch 302
Newton Stewart Glentrool 327
Nithsdale Kinharvie 114
Nithsdale Maidenpap 106
Borders Priesthill 164
Wester Ross Glenarroch 151
Wester Ross Orbost 110
Lochaber Lochan Dhoire 130
Moray Blackwater 120
Dornoch Tannach 231
Dornoch Cnoc a Mhoid 171
Dornoch Achormlarie 192
Dornoch Stroupster 127
Fort Augustus Phochaicain 134
Strontian Lochan Dubh 115
Easter Ross Strathrory 223

Current Position
Name Region Area Proposed for planting (ha) Statement Application
Baillie Whirr Dumfries and Galloway 40 Not provided Withdrawn
Glenure Forest Estate Dumfries and Galloway 28 Presented Under consideration
Stonehouse Farm Dumfries and Galloway 19 Being prepared Under consideration
Gulls Nest Grampian 298 Not provided Refused
Ardtornish Highland 55 Presented Under consideration
Auchtertyre Highland 357 Presented Under consideration
Bhealaich Highland 280 Presented Under consideration
Brabster Farm 2 Highland 564 Presented Approved1
Cnoc nan Gall Highland 231 Presented Under consideration
Corrielair Highland 458 Presented Approved
Forest Farms Highland 2,310 Being prepared Under consideration
Gortoneorn Highland 296 Not provided Withdrawn
East Halladale Highland 810 Being prepared Under consideration
West Halladale Highland 730 Being prepared Under consideration
The Hope Highland 233 Presented Under consideration
Lochluichart Highland 218 Being prepared Under consideration
North Winless Highland 90 Presented Withdrawn
South Channain 2 Highland 39 Presented Under consideration
Auchenroy and Dalcairnie Strathclyde 419 Presented Approved2
Coull Farm Strathclyde 77 Not provided Withdrawn
Gallohoille Farm Strathclyde 136 Not provided Withdrawn
Mulea Plantation Strathclyde 42 Presented Under consideration
Turbiskill Farm Strathclyde 207 Presented Under consideration
Pitcarmick Tayside 160 Presented Under consideration
Cragganester Tayside 135 Being prepared Under consideration

Notes:

1 Only 118 hectares of this application were approved; the remainder was withdrawn.

2 Only 242 hectares of this application were approved; the remainder was withdrawn.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the names, locations and areas which are proposed by the Forestry Commission for aerial spraying with fenitrothion in 1990 to combat forest pests.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The Forestry Commission is not expecting to carry out any aerial spraying with fenitrothion, or other insecticides, in 1990.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which of the current commissioners of the Forestry

Areas proposed for planting in 1990–91
Forestry Commission Forest District Name of forest area Area to be planted (ha)
Kintyre Invernei 167
Kintyre Alltmore 108
Perthshire Rannoch Invercarie 180
Perthshire Camserne 123
Wester Ross Braebost 175
Wester Ross Glenarroch 120
Dornoch Stroupster 267
Dornoch Inveroykel 410
Fort Augustus Phochaicain 238
Ayrshire and Arran Mossdale 230
Newton Stewart Gentrool 125
Borders Langburnshiels 275

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will name the sites, locations and areas for which the Forestry Commission has requested environmental assessments under the Environmental Assessment (Afforestation) Regulations 1988 since their introduction; and if he will state for each site whether an assessment has been presented, or is in progress, and whether the applications for forestry grant have been approved, withdrawn, refused or are still under consideration.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The following table lists all those sites for which the Forestry Commission has requested an environmental statement.

Commission was appointed to fulfil both the requirement under section two of the Forestry Act 1967 and section four of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1985.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Messrs Francis, Bradley, Foot, Woosnam and Strang-Steel fulfil the requirement under section 2 of the Forestry Act 1967 that at least three of the Forestry Commissioners must have special knowledge and experience of forestry; Messrs Francis, Bradley and Foot fulfil the requirement that at least one Commissioner must have scientific attainments and a technical knowledge of forestry, and Mr. Mallinson the requirement that at least one must have special knowledge and experience of the timber trade. Section 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1985, which amended the Forestry Act 1967, places a duty on all the Commissioners to endeavour to achieve a reasonable balance between the needs of forestry and those of the environment.