§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to double the planting of native broadleaf species in those counties which have lost one third of their ancient woodland since 1930.
§ Mr. David HuntThe area of broadleaves planted in Wales has more than trebled over the last decade. A total of 450 hectares of broadleaves have, on average, been planted each year during the last five years, as compared with an average of 120 hectares during the previous seven years. Nearly all the planting was carried out with native species.
The Government's policy is that there should be a continuing expansion of the area of native woodland in Wales.
§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether sites of special scientific interest which may include ancient woodland will, in future, be protected from any depradation by agriculture, quarrying or any other activity.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsSites of special scientific interest are already protected under the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The joint Welsh Office/Department of the Environment circular No. 1/92 "Planning Controls over Sites of Special Scientific Interest", which took effect from 2 January 1992, announced further planning safeguards for these areas.