§ Mrs. Bridget PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps the Government have taken to implement the recommendations made in the first report of the Select Committee on the Environment of Session 1992–93, on forestry and the environment—HC, 1992–93, No. 257.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe Government have already implemented several of the Select Committee's recommendations, including the publication on 25 January of our response to the Rio forest principles, "Sustainable Forestry: The UK Programme". Other matters are under consideration. We will be providing the Select Committee with a follow-up report before the Whitsun recess.
§ Mrs. Bridget PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, how much public money was paid to private landowners in the last financial year as an inducement not to plant conifers; what were the highest sums of money that were paid to landlords for not planting conifers; and to whom these sums were paid.
§ Mr. AtkinsWithin the last financial year no new management agreements which compensate landowners for not planting conifers have been made in England by English Nature. I will write to the hon. Member with details of any such payments made under existing management agreements.