§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make it his policy to inform the public when a definitive date is known for the submission of the report of the interdepartmental forestry review group to Ministers;
(2) what parliamentary procedure he will adopt to enact the conclusions of the interdepartmental forestry review group once they have been presented to Ministers.
§ Sir Hector MonroOnce the forestry review group has submitted its confidential advice, early next year, Ministers will require some time to consider it and decide what action, if any, should be taken.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for public and parliamentary consultation on the final report by the forestry review group before a decision is taken by Ministers.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 29 November 1993]I expect to receive the review group's report in the new year. This report will remain confidential to Ministers. There will be full consultation of the general public and interested bodies on the options preferred by Ministers before matters are taken forward. The form and timing of consultation will depend on the advice which the review group offers Ministers and what conclusions Ministers draw from that advice.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what specific access agreements have been negotiated in respect of areas of Forestry Commission land in each of the last five years.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 13 December 1993]The arrangements for securing continued access to woodlands sold by the Forestry Commission, by means of 689W agreements entered into between the Commission and local authorities before their sale, were introduced in October 1991. The Commission has since concluded access agreements with local authorities for the following woodlands:
County/Region and Woodland Area (hectares) England North Yorkshire Gateforth East 28 Hazelwood 107 Moreby Wood 33 Sutton Wood 33 Scotland Grampian White Cow 444 Wales Clwyd Nant y Ffrith (lot 2) 52 Nant y Ffrith (lot 3) 24 Dyfed Allt y Gwydre 14 Court Wood 19 Factory Wood 3 Penfarch 24 Taldrum Wood 5 Tan y Lan 32 Ty'r Dopa 14 Gwent Coed y Nant 8 Graig Syddi 28 Powys Tir y Gof 47 West Glamorgan Dewy Wood 15 Nantystalwyn 44 Negotiations are still taking place in a number of other cases.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy in respect of the continuation of the right to roam on publicly owned forestry land in the Clydebank and Milngavie constituency.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 13 December 1993]Our policy is to allow the public "freedom to roam" on all forestry land managed by the Forestry Commission, subject only to considerations of safety, conservation and any legal constraints. We have no plans to change that policy.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision regarding freedom to roam has been attached to the offer for sale of public woodland between Glasgow and Loch Lomond; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 13 December 1993]I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the proposed sale of Forestry Commission woodlands in the Kilpatrick hills which have been selected for sale as part of the Commission's current disposals programme. Consideration was given to securing continued public access to these woodlands after sale, by means of a prior agreement entered into between the Commission and the690W local authority under the arrangements introduced in October 1991. This did not prove possible, however, as the access routes to the woodlands are across land belonging to third parties, none of whom wished to participate in an agreement.