HC Deb 18 October 1995 vol 264 cc265-6W
Mr. Tipping

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number and area of Forestry Commission woods in(a) England (b) Scotland and (c) Wales sold since 1981; and, of those, the total number and area of woods in each country sold for which legal agreements were made and are currently enforceable to protect public access on foot. [37499]

Mr. Kynoch

The number and area of Forestry Commission woods sold since 1981 are as follows:

England Scotland Wales
Number of woods sold 986 801 848
Area of woods sold (hectares) 33,629 73,780 16,462

The number and area of Forestry Commission woods sold since the introduction of access agreements in 1991 are as follows:

England Scotland Wales
Number of woods sold 185 220 253
Area of woods sold (hectares) 4,037 26,508 4,688
Number of public access agreements 6 1 16
Area covered by agreements (hectares) 136 20 350

Mr. Tipping

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to publish a comprehensive guide for sale to the public of all woods owned by the Forestry Commission to which public access on foot is freely available. [37501]

Mr. Kynoch

The Forestry Commission already provides guides, leaflets and other publicity and it is considering ways of providing further information about those of its woodlands which are freely open to the public on foot.