§ Sir Hector MonroTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to prevent the postponement of planned tree planting on farms pending the introduction of the farm woodland premium scheme on 1 April 1992.
§ Mr. LangMy right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced on 19 November 1991 in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Esher (Mr. Taylor) (Official Report, columns 135–36) that a successor to the farm woodland scheme—to be called the farm woodland premium scheme—will be introduced on 1 April 1992. In 296W the meantime, applications to enter the existing scheme may be lodged for an extended period up to and including 31 March 1992.
We are conscious that the proposals for the new scheme, which have recently been circulated for consultation, may encourage farmers to consider postponing their planting plans for the present season. In order to avoid a hiatus of this kind pending parliamentary agreement to a revised statutory instrument for the farm woodland premium scheme, we have decided that any planting approved under the current farm woodland scheme which is undertaken on or after 1 October 1991 will be eligible for the full planting grants under the Forestry Commission's woodland grant scheme, including payment of the better land supplement where appropriate. In all other respects the existing rules of the farm woodland scheme, including the rates of annual payments, will continue to apply.
Any higher grants to be paid under these interim arrangements will be met by the Forestry Commission from existing resources.