§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Prime Minister why thre is no system of felling licences to protect Northern Ireland's broadleaved woodlands; if she will extend the United Kingdom system of felling licences to Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterThe 1970 White Paper "Forestry in Northern Ireland" stated that the Government felt that there was no longer the need for restrictive legislation on the felling of trees and proposed that the relevant legislation be repealed. This was done in 1982. There are no proposals to reintroduce felling licences in Northern Ireland. The Department of Environment for Northern Ireland has powers to make an order (known as a tree preservation order) to prohibit the cutting down of trees.