§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the competent authority responsible for assessing the environmental implications of any new afforestation proposals from the Forestry Commission; who decides whether an environmental statement is required; what arrangements will be made for independent scrutiny and what consultations will take place with(a) statutory bodies, (b) non-statutory bodies and (c) Government Departments.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe Forestry Commission is the competent authority for assessing the environmental implications of afforestation proposals and for deciding whether an environmental statement is required in respect of its own proposals as well as those relating to private land. When an environmental statement is prepared by the Forestry Commission on its own account, it will publicise it and enter into consultations in the same way as for private forestry cases.