§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will introduce legislation or regulations to require(a) neighbour notification and (b) consultation with the planning and road service departments of the Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland, prior to approval by the Department of Agriculture, Northern Ireland, in respect of extensive grant-aided tree-planting schemes which will be adjacent to public roads or residential property.
§ Mr. Tim SmithI do not consider that legislation or regulations of the type suggested are either necessary or desirable. The Department of Agriculture in Northern Ireland forest service pays particular attention to landscape, conservation and amenity issues both in planning its own planting activities and also in approving grant aid for new private sector planting.