§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the change in the number of kilometres of hedgerow in Great Britain since 1984; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 11 November 1992]: The survey carried out by the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology as part of my Department's 1990 countryside survey indicates that in 1984 there was an estimated total length of 549,000 km of hedgerow in Great Britain. By 1990 there had been a net loss of some 121,000 km. This figure includes losses due to poor management as well as deliberate removal.
The Government are firmly committed to measures that will safeguard hedgerows. Under the Ministry of Agriculture's farm and conservation grant scheme an estimated 2,000 km of hedgerow were planted or improved in 1991. In July we launched the hedgerow incentive scheme with a budget of £3.5 million over three years to promote improved hedgerow management. Furthermore, although pressure on the parliamentary programme for this Session prevented a place being found for a Government Bill on hedgerow protection, we welcome and support the introduction of a Bill with similar objectives by my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, East (Mr. Ainsworth).