§ Mrs. Bridget PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes there have been in the Government's policy on forestry since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
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§ Sir Hector MonroOur forestry policy was set out in September 1991 in the booklet "Forestry Policy for Great Britain". Last month we published "Sustainable Forestry: The UK Programme", which is a comprehensive statement of the action we are taking to promote sustainable management at home and in other countries, including the initiatives we have launched since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
§ Mrs. Bridget PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money, in the form of grants for private forestry owners, the Government receive from the EC annually; and what conditions are attached to these grants with respect to promoting public access and environmental concerns.
§ Sir Hector MonroThe Government expect to receive £7.1 million from the European Community as co-financing of grant-aid for the afforestation of agricultural land and other forestry operations on farms in 1993–94. Agricultural land, for these purposes, includes all arable land and grassland.
To qualify for co-financing, member states have to obtain approval from the European Commission for national programmes setting out the aid schemes for which reimbursement will be sought. In Great Britain, the principal aid schemes are the woodland grant scheme and the associated farm woodland scheme and farm woodland premium scheme. Participants in these schemes are required to follow the environmental guidelines published by the Forestry Commission. In addition, the community woodland supplement, introduced in 1991 as part of the woodland grant scheme, provides grants for the creation of new woodlands near towns and cities on condition that the woodlands are open for informal public recreation. Similar arrangements apply in the schemes operated in Northern Ireland.
§ Mrs. Bridget PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the timetable for community forest initiatives has been affected by the Government's plans to privatise the Forestry Commission.
§ Sir Hector MonroMinisters have asked the forestry review group to review the effectiveness of the current incentives for forestry investment, to review options for the ownership and management of Forestry Commission woodlands and to make proposals for changes which would improve the effectiveness of the delivery of the Government's forestry policy objectives, having regard to our other economic and environmental policies. Ministers will await the advice of the review group before considering what action, if any, should be taken in respect of the ownership and management of the commission's woodlands. The work of the review group has not affected the progress of the community forests initiative.
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(Average £/farm) Net farm income Projected Net farm income Actual Farm type Level Per cent. change Level Per cent. change LFA: Mainly sheep 1989–90 7,911 -26 9,350 -7 1990–91 7,268 -22 9,252 -3 1991–92 10,941 +18 9,573 +15 1992–93 11,568 +21 10,946 +34
§ Mrs. Bridget PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the national forestry plan that was promised to the United Nations conference on environment and development in 1993 is due to be published.
§ Sir Hector MonroThis was published on 25 January, under the title "Sustainable Forestry: The UK Programme". A copy is in the Library.
§ Mr. BayleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how he intends to ensure that Britain implements the principles set out in the statement of forest principles endorsed at the UN Conference on Environment and Development.
§ Sir Hector MonroI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin) on 28 January,Official Report, column 461.