§ Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the scale of the outbreak of Dutch elm disease and its impact on the English landscape, if he will now initiate and organise a replanting scheme on a national scale.
§ Mr. Denis HowellI am very conscious of the damage which Dutch elm disease is doing to the English landscape but would not regard it as opportune to launch a full national replanting campaign in present economic circumstances. However, grants continue to be available from the Countryside Commission to local authorities and in certain circumstances to private owners for tree planting in the countryside, and in considering applications the Commission are giving high priority to areas seriously affected by the disease. I understand also that the Tree Council intends to emphasise the need for replanting in its promotional activities, including National Tree Week in March 1976.