§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if there is a tree-planting programme in operation for the national parks of England; if not, if such a programme is planned; and if he will make a statement on his Department's policy for the planting of trees in English national parks.
§ Mr. MonroThe Government's policy is to encourage planting of trees for amenity purposes in all suitable places, including national parks, but tree-planting programmes within the parks are the
National Park Area(acres) Grant 1979–80£ Grant 1980–81£ Dartmoor … … … 233,600 399,300 393,800 Exmoor … … … 169,600 261,800 306,800 Lake District … … … 554,200 709,500 701,300 Northumberland … … … 255,600 250,800 192,700 North Yorkshire Moors … … … 353,900 369,600 411,700 Peak Districts … … … 346,900 908,600 948,700 Yorkshire Dales … … … 435,200 448,800 455,300 The grant figures for 1980–81 are provisional. They do not reflect the benefit of the rate support grant increase order for the current year, which has yet to be determined.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to announce the creation of any new national parks in England.
§ Mr. MonroNational parks are designated by order made by the Countryside Commission subject to my right hon. Friend's confirmation. No such orders are currently before him.