§ Dr. IddonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he is taking to increase the level of tree planting. [80371]
§ Mr. MacdonaldWe are fully committed to increasing the area of woodland in Britain. The Forestry Commission's Woodland Grant Scheme and the Agriculture Department's Farm Woodland Premium Scheme both offer grants to landowners to establish new woodlands. The Woodland Grant Scheme also offers Challenge Funds and Locational Supplements to target new planting in certain areas and the Commission has a Land Regeneration Unit to encourage the conversion of derelict land to woodland. We launched a Forestry Strategy for England recently which will help focus our efforts to promote new planting; the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly in Wales will, of course, develop their own policies on forestry in Scotland and Wales.