§ Mr. Brayasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated expenditure which will be incurred by his Department for the provision of trees and seedlings in the Plant a Tree in 1973 Campaign and the number of trees which will be made available as a result of this expenditure.
§ Mr. Graham PageMy Department expects to be directly responsible for planting up to 1½ million trees and shrubs alongside roads and on Government land in the course of Tree Planning Year at a420W cost of over £500,000. Although we do not carry stocks of trees and seedlings to be made available for planting by other bodies, substantial financial assistance will be given to local authorities for tree planting carried out as part of Operation Eyesore and other eligible schemes both in town and country. Inquiries made by the horticultural trade of its members have indicated that sufficient stocks should be available to meet a considerable expansion in demand for trees this year.
§ Mr. Brayasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his budgeted expenditure in the promoting, &c., of the campaign for the 1973 Tree Planting Year and the total sum spent to the nearest convenient accounting date.
§ Mr. Graham PageThe direct costs of publicity for Tree Planting Year will amount to approximately £35,000 by 31st March 1973. This sum excludes financial assistance by my Department to local authorities under the various statutory provisions summarised in Appendix B of circular No. 99/72.