Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Caroline Spelman and Roberta Blackman-Woods

Thursday 30th June 2011 Commons Chamber

[Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham) (Lab)]

1. What recent discussions she has had with the chair of the independent panel on forestry on the future of the public forest estate.

[The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mrs Caroline Spelman)]

First, I am sure that the House would like to join me in wishing the Bishop of Liverpool, who chairs the independent panel, a speedy recovery from his recent operation. As the panel is independent, it is important that its members, including the chair, enjoy complete freedom to produce their report, the scope of which extends beyond the public forest estate to include the future of all England’s forests.

[Roberta Blackman-Woods]

First, may I associate myself with the right hon. Lady’s comments about James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool? She will be aware that at least some members of the independent panel think that more of our woodlands should be in public ownership, not less, so will she give the House a commitment not to sell off any more publicly owned forests and woodland, and instead to seek to work with partners to find ways of adding to it?

[Mrs Spelman]

As I have said, the panel is independent, and I have had no separate conversations with its members to hear the views that the hon. Lady has expressed. The important thing is to wait for the panel to report to us with its recommendations. In the interim, Ministers have made it absolutely clear that there will be no further sale of the public forest estate.