§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the average time is for the Forestry Commission to determine felling licence applications in England; and if there is a customer service target for such determinations. [143445]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Forestry Commission took an average of 7½ weeks to process felling licence applications in England last year. The Commission's customer charter sets a target of issuing felling licences within 10 weeks of receiving an application.
§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his policy on restoring priority open ground habitats for biodiversity which are currently forested by(a) self-sown and (b) planted non-native tree species. [143444]
§ Mr. MorleyWe exercise a general presumption against the conversion of woodland to other land uses, unless there are overriding public benefits, such as the restoration of valuable heathland habitat in accordance with our biodiversity action plan for lowland heathland.
§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidelines the Forestry Commission uses to determine felling licence applications for lowland heathland sites. [143533]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Forestry Commission uses the guidelines in its publication "Lowland Heaths and Forestry", a copy of which is held in the Library. The Commission is currently drafting more detailed guidelines, and I have asked the Commission to send the hon. Member a copy of the draft when it is published.