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Afforestation

Volume 921: debated on Thursday 2 December 1976

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13.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the area of land that has been afforested in Northern Ireland; and what is the annual output of home-grown timber.

To date, the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland has acquired a total plantable area of 54,609 hectares, of which 49,218 hectares have been planted. Approximately 12,500 hectares of forestry are privately owned. Most of the plantations have not yet reached maturity, so output of timber is restricted. Over the past five years an average of 55,000 cubic metres of timber have been produced annually, but this figure is expected to increase to around 400,000 cubic metres by the end of the century.

How many jobs have been provided in Northern Ireland through the processing of home-grown timber? What increase in this employment, if any, is expected in future? Do adequate facilities for training in forestry techniques exist in Northern Ireland?

Approximately 600 persons are engaged in sawmilling, chipboard manufacture and the processing of homegrown timber. It is expected that by the end of the century, when plantations mature and timber output increases, about 4,000 jobs will be created. During the year ending March 1976 roughtly one-sixth of the Department of Agriculture's industrial labour force had specialist training.

Can the Minister say what attempt has been made to grow coppice timber in Northern Ireland, which is particularly suitable for that purpose, for use in the paper industry? It also has the advantage of being a much more frequently cropped timber than the usual slower-growing timber.

I cannot answer that without notice because I am not an expert on forestry in Northern Ireland. However, I shall write to the hon. Gentleman.