§ 32. Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on recent developments in the promotion of woodlands and broadleaf trees.
§ Mr. John MackayOn 24 July 1985 my right hon. Friend the Member for Ayr (Mr. Younger) announced the Government's new policy on broadleaves. This was followed by the introduction of the broadleaved woodland grant scheme by the Forestry Commission on 1 October 1985. More than 800 applications for entry to the scheme have already been approved, and we can expect to see a significant increase in the planting of broadleaves.
On 24 March 1986 my right hon. and learned Friend announced revised criteria to be followed by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland in clearing farm land for forestry. From the agricultural point of view, this will mean that substantially more land will be potentially available for tree planting in Scotland.