HL Deb 25 October 1993 vol 549 cc74-5WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proportion of its woods, in area, value and number, and by region, has the Forestry Commission sold over the last 10 years.

The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Lord Fraser of Carmyllie)

Over the last 10 years, the Forestry Commission has sold about 10 per cent. of its total woodland area in England, 8 per cent. in Wales and 6 per cent. in Scotland. Allowing for inflation, the value of the woodlands sold was approximately 5 per cent. of the total value of the Commission's woodland holding in each country. Information is not available by region, nor by number of woodlands.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What requirement is there for consultations over the sale of Forestry Commission woods with local communities, including councils, amenity societies and those who enjoy walking in Forestry Commission woods, and how are such consultations carried out.

Lord Fraser of Carmyllie

There is no requirement for such consultations. The Forestry Commission does, however, place notices in theEstates Gazette in respect of woodlands of more than 5 hectares or of known environmental interest which it is considering for sale. This gives local authorities, amenity societies and other organisations advance notice of such sales. In addition, the Commission notifies local authorities directly of proposed sales of woodlands to which the public have had access and offers to enter into agreements to provide for its continuation. Local authorities usually have their own arrangements for consulting with other interested parties on these offers.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What qualifications do the Treasury, or the Forestry Commission, have to gauge the value to the public of their access to specific woods where public access has been enjoyed under Forestry Commission ownership.

Lord Fraser of Carmyllie

Following publication in 1987 of the Committee of Public Accounts' report on the objectives and achievements of the Forestry Commission (HC 185), the Commission embarked upon a programme of work to try to quantify the value of providing informal recreation in its forests. Much of this research was undertaken by environmental consultants from Newcastle University and has since been published by the Commission in its Bulletin No. 104, a copy of which is in the Library. The research has shown that the public place a high value on access to Commission land.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What Citizen's Charter provisions are available to citizens who find themselves deprived of previous access to Forestry Commission woods when these are sold.

Lord Fraser of Carmyllie

None. The Citizen's Charter provisions do not apply to privately-owned land, irrespective of its previous ownership.