To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are employed by the Forestry Commission in Wales, giving a sub-regional breakdown indicating labouring and white collar jobs.

The information is shown in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much forest land has been sold so far in Wales since 1981; for what sums of money; and if he will make a statement.

The Forestry Commission sold some 8,600 hectares of forest land in Wales between July 1981 and 31 March 1989. Total receipts from these sales were in the region of £11 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the continued supply of forest products to the paper industry consequent upon the sale of woodlands.

The guidelines on the selection of Forestry Commission properties for sale which Forestry Ministers issued in 1981 require the Forestry Commissioners to take account among other things, of the maintenance and development of the wood processing industry. The commissioners are continuing to follow these guidelines and are fully meeting their wood supply commitments. The guidelines are to be found at appendix V to the commission's 1981–82 annual report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set up a study group to assess the social and economic impact of forest sales upon rural areas.

No. I do not believe that there is any need to set up such a study group.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the likely number of Forestry Commission staff to be made redundant consequent upon the sale in Wales of forests and woods; and if he will make a statement.

It seems unlikely that any Forestry Commission staff will have to be made redundant as a consequence of the sale of forests and woods in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the percentage of forests to be sold in Wales giving a sub-regional breakdown.

It is expected that about 10 per cent. of the Forestry Commission's forest land in Wales will be sold over the next 10 years. It is not possible to give any sub-regional breakdown.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he will make to protect the public's right of access to woodland sold by the Forestry Commission.

In answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro) on 16 June 1989, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland indicated that the Government were concerned that the general public should continue to enjoy access to those forests to be disposed of by the Forestry Commission in a way which was compatible with management for forestry and other purposes. Ways of achieving this objective are being investigated.