asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will institute an inquiry into the problem of the transportation of pulpwood chips in pipelines as a means of helping the development of Scottish forestry.

No, Sir. The possibility of this form of transport has been considered by the Forestry Commission and by users of pulpwood chips, but it seems clear that there would be no advantage in using pipelines in Scottish conditions.

Will my hon. Friend reconsider this matter, because experience in other countries shows that very large capacity vehicles are needed to transport timber, which puts a heavy burden on the roads, and, in addition, more forest roads have to be constructed to extract the timber? Will my hon. Friend please look at the matter again?

It is true that in the United States, for example, large quantities of chips can be concentrated for transport by pipeline. It has, however, been found that the economical factor is that in Canada and the United States the forests are sufficiently concentrated to provide the necessary timber from 1,500 sq. miles, whereas in this country the forests to provide the necessary chips cover about 13,000 sq. miles. It would not, therefore, be practicable or economical to do what, admittedly, has been successful in other countries.

How is it possible to fill a pipeline with chips when it is already choked with jobs?