Member

I support Amendment 88. It would be a useful way to focus the mind of the forestry commissioners. It is fair to say that I do not necessarily agree with everything that has been said about why that could not still be seen to be a secondary duty in terms of renewable energy and that we make sure that at least there is one group of people. By the way, about 10 foresters work as civil servants in government; the Ministry of Defence has the most because it has the most land of any government department. It is important that we keep very much at the forefront of our minds that forests are good and woodland is good, and we definitely need the Forestry Commission not to be diverted when that should be its primary purpose.