§ Mr. BatisteTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to encourage woodland in the United Kingdom.
§ Sir Hector MonroThe two main aims of the Government's forestry policy are the steady expansion of tree cover to increase the many, diverse benefits that forests provide, and the sustainable management of our existing woods and forests. The Government provide a range of incentives to support this policy, chiefly through the woodland grant scheme administered by the Forestry Commission.
This scheme provides grants for establishing new woodlands and replanting felled woodlands, with higher grants for broadleaved trees and native pinewoods and for woodlands of less than 10 hectares. Special supplements
824W
Executive agency: Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency 1991–92 1992–93 Number Cost £ Number Estimated cost £ Chief Executive 1.0 42,933 1.0 45,220 Unified Grade 6 2.0 75,726 2.0 78,434 Marine Superintendent 1.0 36,175 1.0 38,635 Engineer Superintendent 1.0 35,230 1.0 37,626 Unified Grade 7 3.0 87,021 3.0 91,878 Commanding Officer 4.0 136,440 4.0 144,628 are also available for planting on improved agricultural land and for the creation of new woodlands close to towns and cities. In addition, the scheme provides annual grants for managing existing woodlands, with higher rates for broadleaved woodlands and for woodlands of special environmental value.
The farm woodland premium scheme was introduced earlier this year as a successor to the farm woodland scheme and offers annual payments for new woodlands planted by farmers under the woodland grant scheme.
The Government have recently launched several other projects to encourage the establishment and management of woodland in the United Kingdom. These include a community forests programme, proposals for a national forest in the midlands, a central Scotland woodlands initiative, a Welsh valleys forest initiative and a programme to restore the traditional Sherwood forest.