§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what conclusions the regional advisory committee of the Forestry Commission, eastern region, came to at its meeting of 4 October concerning Food Enterprise's proposals for Alport dale in Derbyshire; if he will outline English Nature's official response as a statutory consultee to Forest Enterprise's proposals for Alport dale, Derbyshire; how many (i) letters and (ii) signatures on petitions he has received opposing the Forest Enterprise proposals for Alport dale, Derbyshire; and if Forest Enterprise has undertaken an environmental impact assessment of its proposals for Alport dale, Derbyshire. [42039]
§ Mr. Boswell[holding answer 7 November 1995]: The regional advisory committee has not been asked to consider Forest Enterprise's plans for felling and replanting the maturing woodlands in Alport dale at this stage. Forest Enterprise is reviewing its proposals.
English Nature has expressed concern about the possible impact of the original proposals on landscape and conservation, especially in the area of land designated as a site of special scientific interest. Forest Enterprise will be discussing the terms of a management plan for the area within English Nature.
My right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has received one letter about the proposals; I have received one and the Forestry Commission has received 10.
Forest Enterprise carefully considered the environmental impact of its proposals in preparing its design plan for the woodlands and will continue to do so in revising the plan.
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the ways in which(a) harvesting Forest Enterprise's plantations in Alport dale will affect the rural economy and (b) Forest Enterprise's proposals for Alport dale will affect the (i) recreational and (ii) conservation potential of the Peak national park. [42037]
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§ Mr. Boswell[holding answer 7 November 1995]: Harvesting the maturing woodlands at Alport Dale will contribute to the rural economy by generating employment in felling and replanting operations. Forest Enterprise aims to improve the potential of the area by phasing the felling of tress to increase the diversity of the woodlands and replanting in such a way to enhance the landscape.
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the cost of burying the overhead electricity line that supplies Alport hamlet and at present interferes with cable crane extraction from one of the Forest Enterprise's plantations at Alport dale, Derbyshire; and who will bear the cost. [42036]
§ Mr. Boswell[holding answer 7 November 1995]: Forest Enterprise has asked Yorkshire Electricity to consider the options for moving the overhead electricity line and for meeting the cost. Putting the line underground is one of the options.
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what provisions have been made by Forest Enterprise against the risk of landslips and erosion during and after the harvesting of its plantations in Alport dale, Derbyshire; what is the expected yield of timber from Forest Enterprise's plantations in Alport dale, Derbyshire; what would be the net return to Forest Enterprise on the entire timber crop in its plantations in Alport dale, Derbyshire, at 1995 prices; and what are the costs of Forest Enterprise of gaining access to all the timber in its plantation in Alport dale, Derbyshire. [42038]
§ Mr. Boswell[holding answer 7 November 1995]: To minimise the risk of erosion, Forest Enterprise would use a cable crane to harvest timber from the steep slopes of the Dale. After harvesting, the roots of the trees felled are expect to stabilise the soil until the new trees are well established.
Forest Enterprise estimates that the woodlands will produce about 25,000 cu m of timber and that the net return on harvesting the crop could be £10,000 to £20,000 over the first five years, depending on conditions in the wood market.
Forest Enterprise expects to spend about £10,000 on access improvements.