§ Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Government will publish their response to the Environment Select Committee's first report of the current Session on "Foresty and the Environment"; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. YeoThe Government are today publishing their response to the Environment Select Committee's report on "Forestry and the Environment". We welcome the Committee's report as a valuable contribution to the debate on this important topic.
The Government welcome the Committee's recognition of the important role of forestry in meeting a wide range of environmental, economic and social objectives. The Government also welcome the Committee's support for the continued expansion of forestry cover.
In taking forward the relevant policies, the aim of the Government is to ensure that encouragement of increased woodland cover complements the goal of conserving and enhancing the environment. The statement published by the Forestry Commission on behalf of forestry Ministers 539W in September 1991 set out the broad policy framework: the present response to the Committee's report highlights various developments which have occurred since then. These include the publication of additional environmental guidelines with which applicants for the woodland grant scheme have to comply, the publication last year of guidance to local authorities on the preparation of indicative forestry strategies to assist landowners and others drawing up new planting schemes, and provision by the Forestry Commission of a public register of grant applications io improve the public's awareness of forestry planting proposals.
In the wider policy context, the response confirms the Government's commitment to publish by the end of this year a national plan for implementing the statement of forest principles agreed last year at the Earth summit in Rio de Janiero. The Forestry Commission is co-ordinating the preparation of this plan, and will seek the views of non-governmental organisations before it is completed. The plan will set out the arrangements for implementing forestry policy, including the delivery of multiple objectives in forests throughout the United Kingdom.
The response points to the Government's current review of the effectiveness of existing incentives for forestry investment and options for the ownership and management of the Forestry Commission's woodlands with a view to possible changes which would improve the effectiveness of the delivery of the Government's forestry policy objectives.
The response announces the Government's intention to review existing consultation arrangements for planting and felling proposals; and it confirms that a review of current procedures to maintain public access where appropriate to forests and woodlands sold by the Forestry Commission as part of its disposals programme will take place later this year.
The response also announces the Forestry Commission's intention to devote a greater proportion of its resources to the community and national forest initiatives, and to undertake a study of the extent of neglected and derelict woodlands with a view to making recommendations on any additional action required.
Copies of the Government response are being laid before the House and will be available in the Library.