§ Earl Peelasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether guidance on the protection of the uplands of England and Wales from large-scale planting of conifers has been provided by the Minister or Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the Chairman of the Forestry Commission in accordance with the press release issued by the Department of the Environment on 16th March; and if so whether they will place a copy in the Library.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Trumpington)The joint statement made on 16th March 1988 by my right honourable friends the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for the Environment concerned future policy towards afforestation in the uplands of England. It did not extent to Wales. A letter giving further guidance on the new policy is to be sent as soon as possible to the Chairman of the Forestry Commission and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as it is issued.