Confor seeks forest and timber industry’s views on EU referendum
6 April 2016The Confederation of Forest Industries (Confor) has opened a poll to gauge the views of the forestry and wood sector on the forthcoming referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union.
As well as asking whether those responding wish to remain in the EU, it also asks Confor members if they think they have enough information to make a decision when the vote takes place on June 23.
The results of the poll will be revealed at the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Forestry (APPGF) at Westminster on April 19.
The APPGF will discuss how a vote to leave the EU might impact on the sector, with two MPs speaking up for each side of the argument. MPs from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will participate in the discussion.
“It is clear that there is a range of opinions across the sector on the future of the EU,” said Stuart Goodall, chief executive of Confor.
“We are keen to get an idea of where the balance of opinion lies.”
Confor is also producing a report, written by Guy Watt of John Clegg Consulting Ltd, outlining what the implications of a vote by the British people to leave the European Union might be for the forestry and wood sector.
“There are clearly a number of areas where businesses in our sector are impacted by the decisions of the European Union, such as regulations and subsidy payments and by the operation of a single European market,” said Mr Goodall.
“Predicting national and international trends is not easy and there will be implications for our sector whatever decision the British people take."
The poll can be accessed here
