Farm Woodland Scheme (Hansard, 31 January 1992)

§ Mr. Gummer

[pursuant to his reply, 19 November 1991, c. 135]In my previous reply I announced that the main interested organisations were being consulted about detailed proposals for a farm woodland premium scheme (FWPS), to replace the pilot farm woodland scheme (FWS).

The Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland and I have finalised our proposals in the light of comments received from interested organisations. I am, therefore, laying before the House today the draft farm woodland premium scheme 1992 which, subject to parliamentary approval, we propose to introduce on 1 April. This draft statutory instrument applies to Great Britain: the scheme will be introduced in Northern Ireland by separate arrangement.

The new arrangements will offer increased establishment grants and better incentives to encourage farmers to convert land in agricultural use to woodland. They will be very much easier for farmers to understand, and simpler to operate, than under the farm woodland scheme. Our proposals were welcomed in principle by all consultees although a number of detailed points were raised. We have given careful consideration to these points and in particular those mentioned by environmental interests.

The objectives of the FWPS are to encourage planting of woodland by farmers who will remain in farming, thereby enhancing the farmed landscape and environment; and to encourage a productive alternative land use to agriculture. We intend that the scheme will be environmentally beneficial and we have included a number of safeguards to minimise the risk of environmentally damaging planting. In particular, applications will be subject to environmental and silvilcultural checks by the Forestry Commission and to its consultation arrangements. Also there are limits on planting on unimproved land in the LFAs and the definitions of arable land and improved grassland are designed to ensure that 685W environmentally sensitive sites are protected. We also propose to monitor the way in which the procedures work and the level of planting on unimproved land. We will review the position each year so that action can be taken if there are any problems. We will keep interested organisations informed and consult them as necessary.

The key features of the FWPS are as follows:— Farmers will apply first to the Forestry Commission for grants for establishing trees under the woodland grant scheme, including the better land supplement and community woodland supplement where appropriate. They will then apply to Agriculture departments for the annual incentives under the farm woodland premium scheme. Annual incentives of between £130 and £250 per hectare will be paid for the conversion to arable or improved grassland to woodlands. Annual incentives of £60 per hectare will be paid for the conversion of woodlands of unimproved land in the less favoured areas only. The annual incentives will be available for two categories of woodland: more than 50 per cent. and 50 per cent. or less by area of broadleaved trees. These categories will attract payments for 15 and 10 years respectively There will be no limit on the number of applications that can be made, but planting must not, in aggregate, exceed more than 50 per cent. of any individual agricultural unit. In addition planting of unimproved land must not exceed 40 hectares of any individual agricultural unit. However, for planting on the common grazings in the Scottish crofting counties there will be a total limit of 100 hectares for each common grazing area. The definition of "improved grassland" will be based on the content of "productive" species in the sward. This has the advantage of being easily checked by a physical inspection, it protects sensitive sites and puts no restriction on the method of grassland improvement. Conversion of land to arable or improved grassland must have taken place at least three years before the application is made. No quotas or targets will be set for the scheme, but, it will be subject to cash limits. In certain circumstances farmers will be able to cancel their FWS applications and reapply for the FWPS.