§ 14. Sir Sydney ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will encourage tree planting in the Principality. [21976]
§ Mr. Win GriffithsWe are fully committed to increasing the area of woodland in Wales and we will continue to offer grant aid and advice to landowners to encourage them to plant trees. For example, the Forestry Commission has recently introduced Challenge Funds for creating forests on bracken land in Wales and for establishing native woodlands in National Parks. We shall also be taking steps to encourage the creation of new woodlands on derelict land throughout Wales. Of course, the key to really significant increases in our woodland area is reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. This is one of our principal objectives in Europe, and we are discussing the options with our European partners.