UK minister impressed by forest products sector

Lord Taylor, the parliamentary under-secretary at Defra, was addressing UKFPA members and guests during the recent UKFPA AGM after having assumed responsibility for domestic forestry in England.

UKFPA executive director David Sulman said the organisation was looking forward to working with the minister at a critical time for the English forest products sector.

Gavin Davidson, UKFPA president, told members that he hoped that government would take the opportunity of the review of forestry in England to revitalise forestry in the country with an increased emphasis on timber production.

Anne McGuire, MP for Stirling and chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Wood Panel Industry, also addressed the meeting, citing the industry's concerns about the threat of displacement of wood from the processing sector to large-scale wood-fired electricity generating plants.

Gavin Davidson was re-elected UKFPA president and Rod Gordon the vice-president.