§ Mr. MaclennanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the value of tax relief given for afforestation in 1987–88 and the value of grants paid to private woodland owners in 1991–92; and what was the amount of new planting in 1991–92 as a percentage of that undertaken in 1987–88.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 5 May 1993]: The exact value of the tax relief claimed for forestry operations, including afforestation and restocking, before forestry was removed from the scope of taxation in 1988–89, is not recorded, but it was estimated to be about £10 million in 1987–88. In addition, private woodland owners received grants of £9 million in the same year. The total Government support was, therefore, about £19 million, which is equivalent to £25 million at 1991–92 prices. Private woodland owners received grants of £17 million in 1991–92, representing about 70 per cent. of the total support in 1987–88.
A total of 14,147 hectares of new planting was grant-aided in 1991–92, which was 59 per cent. of the area in 1987–88. The total area planted with grant-aid in 1991–92, including restocking, was 21,978 hectares, which was 77 per cent. of the area planted in 1987–88.