§ Mr. RoweTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many representations he has received on the issue of fast-growing hedges; how many responses have been received from local authorities to the recent circular issued by his Department; whom he has consulted other than local authorities on this issue; and if he will make a statement. [77459]
§ Mr. MealeThis Department has received around 2,500 letters on the issue of fast-growing hedges in 1998 and 1999. The number of telephone calls received has not been recorded.
114 local authorities have so far responded to the circular issued by the Local Government Association on 11 February 1999.
The Department is working with the members of the Leylandii Working Group to draw up a voluntary code of practice on the information to be provided on the sale of hedging plants. The members of the Leylandii Working Group are the Local Government Association, the Horticultural Trades Association, the Arboricultural Association, The British Association of Landscape Industries and the Consumers Association. My Department has contacted a number of other bodies, including the Garden Centre Association, the House Builders Federation, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, the Planning Officers' Society, the National Association of Tree Officers, Mediation UK and the Hedgeline campaign group.
We are considering whether there is anything further the Government should do to address the problems caused by high hedges. We will announce our conclusions in due course.