§ 16. Mr. Newensasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the removal of hedges and the support given by his Department for the continuation of this policy.
§ Mr. WigginMy Department does not grant-aid hedge removal, and has not done so since 1976, except where it is necessary for the proper functioning of a field drainage scheme. We do, however, grant-aid the provision, replacement and layering of hedges.
§ 35. Mr. Hardyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the number of miles of hedgerows forming boundaries of or within farms which have been removed during the last 10 years.
§ Mr. WigginDecisions about the removal of hedges are made by individual farmers and the work does not generally qualify for grant-aid. Consequently, I have no basis on which to estimate the length of hedgerows which have been removed in the last 10 years.