§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all the sites owned or formerly owned by the Forestry Commission where mineral rights have been sold in each of the last 10 years, giving the name of the site, the country in which it is located, and the amount received for the sale of those rights; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 22 February 19931: The Forestry Commission does not sell mineral rights; it grants licences and leases permitting the extraction of minerals, subject to the licensee or lessee obtaining planning permission. Details of individual licences and leases are not kept centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The Forestry Commission has received over £5 million from these licences and leases in the last 10 years.