Tree Planting (Farms)

HC Deb 09 May 1978 vol 949 cc441-2W

Mr. Newens

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give figures to show what public funds have been paid out annually for the planting of trees on farms for each year for which figures are available from 1970.

Mr. Strang

Grants for providing, replacing or improving shelter belts or shelter hedges paid by my Department under the various farm and horticulture capital grant schemes in force at the time were:

Financial Year and Grant paid in England and Wales
	£000's
1970–71	15
1971–72	105
1972–73	45
1973–74	59
1974–75	34
1975–76	37
1976–77	25
1977–78	26

Grants are also available for woodland owners under various Forestry Commission schemes and, for amenity tree planting, from the Countryside Commission—formerly paid by Department of the Environment—but figures for the amounts of such grants paid to farmers are not readily available.