§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether farmers are entitled to a free visit when applying for a grant under the farm woodland scheme; whether approval from the Forestry Commission is necessary before grants under this scheme are paid out, and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerGeneral advice about woodland establishment and management, and detailed advice on the grant aid available for these activities, is available to farmers free of charge from ADAS in England and Wales and from the Scottish agricultural colleges in Scotland. Entry into the farm woodland premium scheme, which886W offers annual payments to farmers to offset income forgone when trees are planted on agricultural land, is conditional upon the proposed planting having been approved by the forestry authority for establishment grants under the woodland grant scheme.