§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about changes affecting the area of ancient semi-natural woodland since 1962.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 2 June 1992]: The Government's broadleaves policy and the changes introduced in 1984 to the criteria for granting felling licences and in 1985 to the volume of timber which may be felled without a licence have done much to slow the decline of ancient semi-natural woodland in Scotland. Further measures to remove the remaining causes of decline are being considered.
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§ Mr. Allan StewartThe latest information known to us is as follows:
The Government have also introduced measures to encourage the management of existing ancient semi-natural woodlands and the creation of new native woodlands. Early indications are that these measures are proving a success.
§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to double the planting of native broadleaf species in those counties which have lost more than one third of their ancient woodland since 1930.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 8 June 1992]: The area of broadleaves planted in Britain has quadrupled over the last decade. Some 7,500 hectares of broadleaves have, on average, been planted each year during the last five years, as compared with an average of 1,800 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 Britain.
§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if, pursuant to his answer of 2 June,Official Report, column 369, he will make a statement about the number of hectares of non-native species and native broadleaf species that have been planted in each year since 1984.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 8 June 1992]: Information in this detail is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.