§ Lord Hardy of Wathasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have reached any conclusion concerning the suggestion in 1998 of the group set up to review the Hedgerow Regulations 1997 that the Environment Act 1995 be amended to allow local authorities to determine which hedgerows in their areas should be protected. [HL4832]
§ Lord WhittyA consultation paper on protection of boundary features and amendment of the Hedgerow Regulations 1997 is in preparation. Though we have not reached any firm conclusions on the mechanisms to be used, the consultation paper is likely to invite views on the ways in which hedgerows that are important because of their local distinctiveness should be protected.