HC Deb 07 December 1987 vol 124 cc13-4W
Mr. Amess

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to how many trees were destroyed in (a) Essex and (b) the Basildon area as a result of the storms in October; and how the figures were calculated.

Sales of dwellings by London Boroughs
1All sales April 1979 to June 1987 Right to buy applications: October 1980 to June 1987
Number of which Total of which, in quarters ending:
RTB per cent. Vacant per cent. Number September December March June
1986 1986 1987 1987
City of London 1,091 65 8 3,035 52 86 229 190
Barking and Dagenham 6,245 100 0 11,143 ֵ ֵ ֵ ֵ
Barnet 4,535 80 4 7,883 391 263 407 620
Bexley 2,742 11 1 ֵ ֵ ֵ ֵ ֵ
Brent 1,798 96 3 4,559 210 206 330 342
Bromley 5,207 86 4 8,083 276 291 577 672
Camden 725 94 6 4,975 228 228 515 625
Croydon 4,952 70 4 7,215 312 263 ֵ 434
Ealing 4,592 44 1 3,978 ֵ ֵ 0 0
Enfield 4,210 83 8 7,054 301 295 704 ֵ
Greenwich 2,552 100 0 6,329 295 ֵ ֵ 0
Hackney 828 96 2 3,308 ֵ ֵ ֵ ֵ
Hammersmith and Fulham 2,029 59 25 4,025 231 158 335 35
Haringey 2,475 97 0 5,977 295 256 485 516

Mr. Moynihan

Essex county council estimates that 72,000 isolated trees were destroyed by the hurricane force winds, and a further 750,000 badly damaged. They have not provided separate estimates for the Basildon area. The Department has commissioned an aerial photographic survey in the affected area by Hunting Technical Surveys Ltd. The sample areas being photographed include 20 in Essex and one in the Basildon area. However the survey is being delayed by adverse weather conditions.

Mr. Amess

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from environmentalist groups in the Essex region in connection with the damage caused by the storm of October; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Moynihan

The Department has received no such representations. However, I understand that the Essex Naturalist Trust and a number of national conservation bodies have been in touch with Task force Trees a unit of the Countryside Commission, about funding for various projects in the Essex region relating to storm damage to the landscape. The Task force expects to announce its decisions on these applications very shortly.