HL Deb 28 July 1988 vol 500 cc482-3WA
Baroness Gardner of Parkes

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What further financial assistance they will provide to promote the replacement planting of amenity trees lost in the storm of 16th October last year.

The Earl of Caithness

The Government have already made substantial sums available for the replacement planting of amenity trees, both in rural and in urban areas, through a special unit of the Countryside Commission, Task Force Trees. In 1987–88, £3 million was allocated for this purpose and in January we announced that a further £800,000 would be provided for the current financial year to supplement the commission's regular programme of assistance for planting.

At that time we also said that the Government would make a further statement of their intentions in good time for the start of the next planting season. Accordingly, following detailed discussions with the Countryside Commission, we have decided to make available to Task Force Trees an additional allocation of £2.5 million to implement the next phase of restoration. Of this, £200,000 is to be spent in the current financial year and the remainder in 1989–90.

We see this additional aid as part of a longer-term programme of restoration of which details will be announced in due course.

The Government are conscious of the damage caused by the storm to historic parks and gardens, and both English Heritage and Task Force Trees are providing appropriate assistance. For 1989–90, in addition to the further resources for Task Force Trees, we shall be making available £500,000 to English Heritage to enable it to continue its programme of grant assistance for the clearance and replanting of parks and gardens of outstanding architectural or historic interest.