Oral Answers to Questions

Fiona O'Donnell Excerpts

Thursday 19th January 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Paice]

The hon. Lady, as always, gets a bit hysterical. In fact, there never was any intention to dispose of the whole public forest estate. Nevertheless, as we have repeatedly said, all sales, of any scale, are suspended until we get the final report. When we get the final report, we will then consider future policy, and not until.

[Fiona O'Donnell (East Lothian) (Lab)]

Many happy returns, Mr Speaker.

I hope we can have a more reasoned and possibly less sexist response this time. The independent panel’s report tells us of the value of the public forest estate in terms of the environment, the rural economy and public access. The Bishop of Liverpool told the Secretary of State that she had “greatly undervalued” our forests and that they should not be sold off, but expanded. Does the Secretary of State agree with the bishop? Will she complete the final curve of the U-turn and call off the sell-off of 15% of the estate? Yes or no?

[Mr Paice]

All sales are called off until we get the final report. Then we will wait—

[Fiona O'Donnell]

Suspended.

[Mr Paice]

Suspended, called off—I do not mind which word the hon. Lady uses: no sales will take place until the final report is in hand and the Government have digested it and decided on a way forward.