§ 18. Mr. Arnold Shawasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will seek powers to stimulate tree planting in urban areas, especially where redevelopment is taking place.
§ Mr. SkeffingtonLocal councils have extensive powers and, I am glad to say, are using them increasingly for the purposes mentioned. Section 12 of the Civil Amenities Act requires them in appropriate cases to make the grant of planning permission conditional on the planting or preservation of tree cover.
§ Mr. ShawThat is good as far as it goes. Will not my hon. Friend regard this as being urgent in order to prevent the further spread of deserts of bricks and mortar? Is there not a need for legislation, and even for financial incentives for those authorities that co-operate?
§ Mr. SkeffingtonThere will be financial incentives under the Housing Bill when enacted in regard to improving environmental conditions in improvement areas. Elsewhere, the number of new tree preservation orders, which is increasing at a very rapid rate, leads us to believe that this aspect is being satisfactorily catered for. We are always anxious to do better.
§ Mr. Wingfield DigbyIn encouraging local authorities to plant more trees, will the Minister ensure that they take good advice on the species selected and, if necessary, go to the Forestry Commission, which is the expert in this field and gives good advice?
§ Mr. SkeffingtonWe are in continual touch with the Forestry Commission and other agencies on this matter. Authorities have found our publication "Trees in Towns" very useful. This year we hope to publish a further booklet in relation to tree planting in both town and country.