§ Lord Reesasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which Ministers have responsibility for appeals against the determination of planting grant applications in England, Scotland and Wales.
§ The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Lord Sanderson of Bowden)Where there is a sustained objection to a planting application and the Forestry Commissioners agree that the application should be refused, they may give a decision without reference to Ministers. In all other cases where an objection has been sustained the commissioners are required before giving a decision to seek the views of the appropriate Forestry Minister—the Minister of906WA Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in England and the Secretaries of State in Wales and Scotland. In England, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food may, where appropriate, consult the Secretary of State for the Environment before formulating his views.
There is no statutory right of appeal against decisions of the Forestry Commissioners on grant aid. This does not, however, remove the opportunity open to any aggrieved applicant to make representations to the Forestry Minister concerned.