HC Deb 29 June 1994 vol 245 c608W
Mr. McMaster

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing how many Forestry Commission woodlands have been sold to the private sector since 1980, or from whichever year figures are available; how many of these are subject to(a) voluntary and (b) legally binding access agreements; what is the total hectarage of these woodlands; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Hector Monro

[holding answer 24 June 1994]: Between July 1981, when the Forestry Commission's disposals programme started, and 31 March 1994, the Commission sold some 2,500 individual areas of forest land covering 105,000 hectares. Arrangements for securing continued public access to Forestry Commission woodlands, by way of prior agreements entered into between the Commission and local authorities, were introduced in October 1991. By 31 March 1994, the Commission had sold eight areas of forest land, covering 123 hectares, which are subject to legally binding access agreements. The Commission does not maintain records of the extent of voluntary public access allowed to woodlands sold without legally binding agreements.