5. To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure the safeguarding of national forestry treasures as set out in the Scottish forestry strategy. (S4O-00005)
Official Report · Chamber
National Forestry Treasures
Scottish Executive Question Time General Questions
Speakers
Choose an MSP to read only their contributions- Jim Hume LD 3
- Richard Lochhead SNP 2
- Tricia Marwick 1
The record
6 contributions5. To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure the safeguarding of national forestry treasures as set out in the Scottish forestry strategy. (S4O-00005)
As we stated in our manifesto, we will keep the Forestry Commission as a publicly owned body and our forestry estate as an asset for the nation.
The minister may be aware of a recent Sunday Times article in which a land agent who works closely with the Forestry Commission in Scotland was quoted as saying:
“There are forests run by the commission in which nobody has set foot for years.”
I imagine that the minister will be concerned to hear that areas of our £1 billion forest estate are allegedly being neglected. It has even been suggested that the lack of attention given to the Glen Shira estate, which was sold off by the Government, led to 2,500 acres of wind-blown and stunted trees, which may have cost the taxpayer £5 million in lost revenue from that forest alone.
Does the minister agree that an audit of our forestry estate—
“There are forests run by the commission in which nobody has set foot for years.”
I imagine that the minister will be concerned to hear that areas of our £1 billion forest estate are allegedly being neglected. It has even been suggested that the lack of attention given to the Glen Shira estate, which was sold off by the Government, led to 2,500 acres of wind-blown and stunted trees, which may have cost the taxpayer £5 million in lost revenue from that forest alone.
Does the minister agree that an audit of our forestry estate—
Tricia Marwick
The Presiding Officer · Mid Fife and Glenrothes
link
Order, Mr Hume. It is a question, not a statement.
Okay. Does the minister agree that an audit of our forestry estate is required as soon as possible to determine whether there are other areas of neglected forest that are devaluing the Scottish people’s £1 billion estate?
I am aware of the case in Jim Hume’s region, although I tell him not to believe everything that he reads in the papers. Wind blow in Scotland’s forests is of course nothing new; we are one of the windiest countries in the world and the forestry sector deals with that on an on-going basis. Although I respect the fact that the handsome majority that the SNP achieved at the election gives us a mandate to deal with a range of matters, even this Government cannot stop the wind blowing in Scotland.
Motions, questions and votes
Linked from this item of the Official ReportIn this meeting
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- Waste Incinerators (Planning Regulations) Questions · 8
- Affordable Housing Questions · 4
- Gourock to Dunoon Ferry Service (Tender) Questions · 9
- National Forestry Treasures Questions · 6
- Grade-separated Junction (Laurencekirk) Questions · 6
- Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 (Regulation) Questions · 4
- Local Authorities (Duty of Care and Responsibility) Questions · 4
- Engagements First Minister’s Questions · 8
- Prime Minister (Meetings) First Minister’s Questions · 9
- Spending Plans First Minister’s Questions · 6
- High Court of Justiciary First Minister’s Questions · 8
- Older People (Standards of Care) First Minister’s Questions · 5
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- Sport Debate · 47
- Decision Time Decision time · 13
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