§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What success they have had in recent years in increasing demand for home-grown timber, and in particular thinnings; and how they view prospects for wood products in (a) gluing technology and laminated timber; (b) long fibre spruce round-wood and (c) renewable energy, including industrial heating and combined heat and power. [HL582]
§ Lord WhittyBritish roundwood deliveries to the wood processing industry currently stand at some 7.5 million tonnes per annum, compared with 7.1 million in 1996. This increase has been against a background of a continuing decline in international and UK prices for round timber, which is adversely affecting the area of woodland being thinned in Britian.
The development of gluing and laminating technologies is now being adopted by commerical companies in new timber products. Long fibre spruce roundwood is an excellent pulping material and there is some potential for an increase in its use. Renewable energy, including heating, offers a potentially major new market for small and low grade timber. There is now a significant number of small schemes and sites utilising wood fuel for heat. Co-firing with coal for power is another promising option.