HC Deb 10 March 1988 vol 129 cc311-2W
39. Mr. Pike

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has recently received in relation to the taxation regime for forestry development.

42. Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received concerning the present taxation status of forestry development.

46. Mr. Darling

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received concerning the present taxation status of forestry development.

Mr. Norman Lamont

I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) on 11 February at column490.

84. Mr. Macdonald

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate for the past five financial years of(a) the revenue lost to the Exchequer from tax incentives for the plantation of forestry and (b) the cost to the Exchequer of grants made available to landowners for agreements under the Wildlife and Countryside Act to conserve land by not developing commercial forestry.

Mr. Norman Lamont

The income tax forgone is estimated to be some £10 million a year for the past five financial years. No information is available on which to base an estimate of the cost of capital tax reliefs.

The estimated costs of payments made by the Nature Conservancy Council during the five years to December 1987 under management agreements arising under the Wildlife and Countryside Act to conserve sites of special scientific interest from commercial forestry is £1.8 million. This includes payments to conserve woodland as well as payments to prevent afforestation.