HC Deb 25 May 1989 vol 153 cc746-8W
Mr. Grocott

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much coniferous and deciduous planting has taken place on farmland in England and Wales since the last Budget; and, of this, how much was subject to the new tax arrangements introduced in that Budget.

Mr. Ryder

In the year to 31 March 1989, the Forestry Commission grant aided 1,728 hectares of new planting (752 hectares conifers and 976 hectares of broadleaves) in England and 923 hectares of new planting (710 hectares of conifers and 213 hectares of broadleaves) in Wales on land that was formerly in agricultural use. A total of 2,371 hectares of this planting could have attracted tax reliefs under the transitional arrangements announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his 1988 Budget.

The Commission itself carried out 191 hectares of new planting on former agricultural land in England and Wales (159 hectares of conifers and 32 hectares of broadleaves).

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