§ 36. Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 863W if he will reverse his decision not to consider the possibility of increasing the level of Forestry Commission grants paid to private foresters before October 1980, having regard to the recent estimate of the Economic Forestry Group that the level of private planting in the United Kingdom fell by 57 per cent. in the years 1976 and 1977.
§ Mr. StrangThe substantial increases in rates of grants under the dedication schemes introduced from 1st October 1977 and the further greatly improved fiscal reliefs for woodlands announced by my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 26th October 1977—[Vol. 936, c. 1441]—were designed to encourage private planting, having regard to the decline in the rate of planting which was already known. There are now signs of renewed confidence in the private sector. In view of the inevitable time lag in preparing land and producing planting stock before decisions to plant can be given effect, I consider that a valid assessment of the effect of the new measures cannot reasonably be expected before grant levels are reviewed as planned in 1980.