§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether felling licences for woodlands planted under the set-aside scheme will be granted without a replanting condition; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RyderThe control of tree felling rests with the Forestry Commissioners under powers contained in the Forestry Act 1967.
When clear felling is proposed, it is at present the commissioners' normal policy to require replanting of the felled area. As we have already announced, for woodlands planted under the farm woodland scheme there will, subject to whatever legislation may be current at the time, be a presumption in favour of granting licences without such a replanting condition provided that in each case this has the support of the relevant agriculture department and there are no overriding environmental objections. Similar arrangements will apply to any planting done under the set-aside scheme.