HC Deb 11 January 1999 vol 323 c126W
Mr. Swayne

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a minute of the meeting between the Parliamentary Secretary, the hon. Member for Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley), and the Chief Executive of Forest Enterprise on 24 November 1998. [64979]

Mr. Morley

I often meet officials of the Forestry Commission, including the Chief Executive of Forest Enterprise, to discuss forestry matters. When I met the Chief Executive on 24 November he informed me, amongst other things, that Forest Enterprise had issued a formal warning to the New Forest Fox Hounds. It is not customary to publish the minutes of meetings between Ministers and their departmental officials.

Mr. Swayne

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the relationship between Forest Enterprise and the Parliamentary Secretary, the hon. Member for Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley). [65008]

Mr. Morley

My right hon. Friend the Minister has responsibility for forestry in England, but I act on his behalf on most forestry matters. Forest Enterprise is an agency of the Forestry Commission, which is the Government's Department for forestry.