§ Lord Norrieasked Her Majesty's Government:
What has been the outcome of the consultation exercise on the proposal to exempt parts of the 8WA industrial Pennines from the Government's general policy not to grant-aid predominantly conifer planting in the English uplands.
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Trumpington)Our consultation exercise last year gave rise to a large number of detailed responses and we have given careful consideration to these. Although there was support for some planting within the areas identified by the joint DoE-Forestry Commission working group, the general view was that the present policy adequately caters for the types and scale of new planting which will be appropriate and that the proposed exception would not be helpful. In recognition of this, my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and I and my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment have decided not to proceed with the proposal.