HC Deb 08 December 1998 vol 322 cc187-8W
Mr. Paice

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to receive the report on a Forestry Strategy for England from the Forestry Commission; and when he will publish it. [62678]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 7 December 1998]: I have received the report from the Forestry Commission and expect to publish the Strategy later this week.

Mr. Quinn

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he plans to publish the Government"s Forestry Strategy for England. [63226]

Mr. Morley

We have today published "A New Focus for England's Woodlands", our forestry strategy for England, and a copy has been placed in the Library.

The Strategy sets out our priorities and programmes for the creation and management of woods and forests in England. It will help to focus discussion on how we, in partnership with other organisations, can work to ensure that England's woods and forests continue to provide benefits for England's people.

The Strategy sets out a series of actions to help achieve our priorities and to help implement our key programmes. The Strategy is not prescriptive. It sets out the framework for the Government's continued support for forestry in England and will guide the targeting of our resources in the years ahead.