§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now consider giving financial assistance to local authorities to enable them to make grants to property owners with trees affected by Dutch elm disease.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe felling of dead or dying trees is in general the responsibility of the owner. However, local authorities have been given powers for certain purposes—e.g., in the interests of preventing danger to the public on a highway or, in some cases, of saving healthy elms in areas likely affected by Dutch elm disease—to require felling or, if necessary, to carry it out themselves, and in the latter case they are able but not obliged to recoup their expenditure. Authorities' general powers under Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 to incur expenditure which is in their opinion in the interests of their area might also be relevant. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and I would not consider it appropriate to give financial 381W assistance to authorities, otherwise than through the rate support grant, in respect of such expenditure.