HL Deb 26 November 1969 vol 305 cc1249-51
LORD SORENSEN

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, in view of the large number of country hedges being destroyed and thus spoiling a countryside amenity, what action is being taken by local authorities covering rural areas to ensure that such destruction shall only occur when it is essential; and what investigation has been made to determine on balance to what extent hedgerows are an agricultural advantage or disadvantage.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (LORD KENNET)

My Lords, planning permission is, under the Town and Country Planning Acts, not required for the removal of hedges. Under the Acts local planning authorities may however make tree preservation orders on hedgerow trees and saplings, and a number of such orders have been made. Grants may be paid under both agriculture and amenity legislation for tree planting. The agricultural advantages and disadvantages of hedgerows are kept under review by the Shelter Research Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on which university and other research organisations are represented.

LORD SORENSEN

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that portion of his reply which I happened to hear, may I ask him whether he would reply a little more clearly to the last part of my Question; that is to say, what investigation has been made to determine the respective advantages and disadvantages from the demolition of hedgerows?

LORD KENNET

My Lords, I apologise for my inaudibility. The matter is being considered by the Shelter Research Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and on this Committee are representatives of universities and other relevant research organisations.

LORD SORENSEN

My Lords, is it to be taken that the information is then passed on to the respective and responsible authorities in the rural areas?

LORD KENNET

Yes, my Lords.

LORD OAKSHOTT

My Lords. is there any reason to believe that the principle, well accepted in the past, that hedgerows prevent soil erosion has been abandoned or changed in any way?

LORD KENNET

My Lords, I understand from such evidence as is available so far that hedgerows prevent soil erosion only for rather a short distance into the field, and that the present best opinion is that in arable farming it is a better bet to have large windbreaks.

LORD ALLERTON

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he is aware that large fields have considerable agricultural advantages, and that tractor time spent turning round is tractor time wasted? Also, is he aware that the present cost of cutting and laying hedges is in the neighbourhood of some £4 a chain?

LORD KENNET

Yes, my Lords; and this is of course the reason why farmers like to uproot hedgerows. Nevertheless, there is an amenity consideration which has to be balanced against the farming consideration.

THE EARL OF MANSFIELD

My Lords, arising out of the original reply, may I ask whether Her Majesty's Government realise that this wholesale destruction of hedges means also the wholesale destruction of nesting places of insectivorous birds which do so much to reduce agricultural pests?

LORD KENNET

Yes, my Lords; this factor also is taken into account.

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, would the noble Lord agree that it is only a relatively recent innovation to have hedges, and that before the Inclosure Acts hedges were far less common than they are at present and the soil did not then become eroded?

LORD KENNET

Yes, my Lords. Hedges are mainly of 18th and early 19th century origin; that is quite correct.