§ Sir Hector MonroTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will review the criteria for the release of agricultural land for forestry planting in Scotland.
§ Mr. RifkindSince I announced revised criteria for forestry planting on agricultural land in Scotland on 24 March 1986, there have been a number of significant developments affecting forestry and agriculture. In particular, the Government have introduced a number of new initiatives to encourage planting on better quality land as well as increasing the overall planting target to 33,000 hectares a year for new forestry planting, with an additional 12,000 hectares a year for planting under the farm woodland scheme. It is clear that there will continue to be considerable interest in new forestry planting in Scotland. I have, therefore, considered changes which might be made to the criteria for the release of agricultural land to facilitate this achievement of the type and level of planting for which we are aiming while preserving an acceptable balance with agriculture, the environment and other interests. I have also taken the opportunity to