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Maintaining Public Ownership Of Scottish Forests

EDM number 467 in 2008-09, proposed by Willie Rennie on 15/01/2009.
Categorised under the topic of Forestry.

That this House notes with deep concern the SNP Scottish Government's proposal to lease 25 per cent. of the most commercially, viable, publicly-owned Scottish forests to private investment companies for up to 75 years; further notes that the 25 per cent. could equate to 40 per cent. of production for the Forestry Commission, which could significantly diminish essential income for investment in maintaining tourist activities such as the 7stanes network and for creating new leisure-access initiatives such as mountain biking, walking, orienteering and other community woodland projects; recognises the importance of Scotland's woods and forests and the potential for raising capital for expansion of woodland cover; considers that Forestry Commission jobs and associated jobs are under threat; further recognises that timber and wood processing companies depend on security of wood supply and that Forestry Commission cutting contracts face an uncertain future if those cutting rights are taken away; urges the SNP Scottish Government to commit to maintaining sufficient availability of wood for these industries; further considers that the SNP Scottish Government should commission a comprehensive survey of wood availability and demand, in conjunction with Forestry Commission Scotland, Forestry Commission Wales and Forestry Commission England and with the wood industries; further recognises with concern the detrimental effects that this proposal could have on the Scottish landscape, economy and environment; and calls for its immediate withdrawal from the Scottish Climate Change Bill.

This motion has been signed by a total of 31 MPs.

MPDateConstituencyPartyType
Willie Rennie15/01/2009Dunfermline and West FifeLiberal DemocratProposed
Danny Alexander15/01/2009Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and StrathspeyLiberal DemocratSeconded
Robert Smith15/01/2009West Aberdeenshire and KincardineLiberal DemocratSeconded
Charles Kennedy19/01/2009Ross, Skye and LochaberLiberal DemocratSeconded
Jeremy Corbyn19/01/2009Islington NorthLabourSeconded
Mike Hancock19/01/2009Portsmouth SouthLiberal DemocratSeconded
Lynne Jones19/01/2009Birmingham, Selly OakLabourSigned
David Taylor19/01/2009North West LeicestershireLabourSigned
Kelvin Hopkins20/01/2009Luton NorthLabourSigned
David Drew20/01/2009StroudLabourSigned
John Leech20/01/2009Manchester, WithingtonLiberal DemocratSigned
Mark Hunter20/01/2009CheadleLiberal DemocratSigned
Jim Devine20/01/2009LivingstonLabourSigned
Michael Moore21/01/2009Berwickshire, Roxburgh and SelkirkLiberal DemocratSigned
Sandra Osborne21/01/2009Ayr, Carrick and CumnockLabourSigned
Alan Simpson21/01/2009Nottingham SouthLabourSigned
Alan Reid21/01/2009Argyll and ButeLiberal DemocratSigned
Menzies Campbell22/01/2009North East FifeLiberal DemocratSigned
Alistair Carmichael22/01/2009Orkney and ShetlandLiberal DemocratSigned
David Hamilton22/01/2009MidlothianLabourSigned
Rudi Vis22/01/2009Finchley and Golders GreenLabourSigned
Malcolm Bruce26/01/2009GordonLiberal DemocratSigned
Ann Cryer26/01/2009KeighleyLabourSigned
Bill Etherington26/01/2009Sunderland NorthLabourSigned
Brian Jenkins27/01/2009TamworthLabourSigned
Michael Clapham27/01/2009Barnsley West and PenistoneLabourSigned
Jo Swinson27/01/2009East DunbartonshireLiberal DemocratSigned
John Thurso29/01/2009Caithness, Sutherland and Easter RossLiberal DemocratSigned
John Hemming02/02/2009Birmingham, YardleyLiberal DemocratSigned
John McDonnell27/02/2009Hayes and HarlingtonLabourSigned
Iris Robinson16/03/2009StrangfordDUPSigned

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