§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria he has 600W advised should be applied by county councils and district councils towards assisting ratepayers with the cost of felling elm trees killed by Dutch elm disease.
§ Mr. Denis HowellMy right hon. Friend has not given any advice: councils' assistance in these circumstances is a matter for their own discretion. I understand that some councils are assisting owners and I am sure that others will view applications sympathetically, subject of course to current financial constraints.