§ Baroness Nicolasked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have for the future organisation of the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture in Northern Ireland
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office (Lord Dubs)Following consideration of a prior options study, which was announced to Parliament on 7 March 1995, I have decided that the Forest Service should become a next steps agency and that preparations should proceed with a view to agentisation with effect from 1 April 1998. The Forest Service is responsible for the implementation of Government forestry policy within Northern Ireland and performs broadly the same functions as the Forestry Commission in Great Britain. Agency status will give the service more flexibility in its commercial operations and in the delivery of government forestry objectives