OPPOSITION HAVE “HEADS IN SAND” ON FORESTRY COMMITMENT.

OPPOSITION HAVE “HEADS IN SAND” ON FORESTRY COMMITMENT.

LONDON LABOUR PLANNING PRIVATISATION

SNP MSP for Highlands and Islands Rob Gibson today blasted Labour over their opposition to the government’s proposals to lease forestry commission land in order to increase tree planting across Scotland and capture the equivalent of 43.7% of road transport emissions in Scotland in 2006.

The UK Labour government is currently considering privatising the Forestry Commission in England and Wales to pay for the recent bank bail outs.

Proposals for leasing forestry commission land were first put forward in the 2006 Forest strategy under Labour MSP Rhona Brankin.

Mr Gibson said;

“This ridiculous scaremongering from Labour and the Lib Dems is utterly irresponsible.

“They have stuck their “heads in the sand” and are refusing to acknowledge the need to expand our woodlands and to generate the income to do that.

“Where the SNP are making responsible proposals that retain ownership of Scotland’s forests Labour in London are threatening to sell their forests for the highest bid.

“This is a valuable proposal that will help Scotland meet our ambitious climate change targets and put Scotland at the forefront of tackling climate change.

“Michael Russell has also made perfectly clear that no leases will be signed that do not ensure the highest standards of biodiversity and access, and these decisions will be made in discussion with the trade unions.

"Instead of campaigning against something which is not happening and taking the public for fools what Labour need to do is tell the public what alternatives they propose – and why leasing Forestry Commission land was ok when they were in power?”