HL Deb 02 February 1988 vol 492 cc1067-8WA
Lord Chelwood

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will extend to five years the period during which the Countryside Commission "Task Force Trees" proposals are available, and increase the grant for those activities.

The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (The Earl of Caithness)

We are discussing with the Countryside Commission the need for a continuation of their special programme of grants and assessing how that will fit in with the efforts of local authorities, of other bodies, and of individual owners. We have undertaken to make a statement of our intentions in good time for the start of the next planting season. Meanwhile, additional resources of almost £800,000 will be made available to the commission to supplement their tree-planting programme in 1988–89, and a further £250,000 has been provided in the current financial year, bringing the total budget for Task Force Trees in 1987–88 to £3 million.