4th. December 2008

LABOUR: SNP CAN'T SEE THE WOOD FOR THE TREES

Labour's Rural Affairs and Environment team has held a summit in parliament with the Forestry Commission Unions to discuss mounting concerns over the Scottish Government's proposals to lease 25 per cent of the forest estate for 75 years.

Scottish Labour's Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment, Sarah Boyack, said:

"The proposals just don't stack up. The Minister Michael Russell MSP has made a number of false promises to the Forestry Commission workers. TUPE rights only last for the first three years, but these are leases for 75 years and private companies will be keen to make the maximum amount of money. The offer of "strenuous efforts" to help staff get alternative work in the Forestry Commission will be meaningless in small rural communities.  We potentially lose some of our most skilled staff in our rural areas.

"There is no viable business plan and all the SNP government can see is the pound signs. There are no details about how the government will raise £200m and what the money will be used for."

Rural Development spokesperson, Rhoda Grant, said:

"It is difficult to see how the role of the Forestry Commission could remain viable with its most lucrative forests removed from its control.  At a time when community involvement in forestry is gaining ground it seems ludicrous to pass control to other organisations who are looking to profit from our forests and who will not have a social remit to work with our communities."

Elaine Murray, Labour's Environment spokesperson, added:

"The many recreational forest users including walkers, mountain bikers and horse riders will be alarmed at the proposals. The SNP government states that its proposals could bring in as much as £200m. However if total control of these forests is passed over to the private sector, this could be early cash at the expense of future years' income as timber in these forests is sold by the private investor instead of the government. The government would, over the period of the lease, also lose out on any income from leisure and tourism."

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