Written question asked by Christopher Chope (Conservative) on Wednesday, 24 January 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 29 January 2001. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Monday, 29 January 2001 on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Question: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the outcome of the prosecution by the Forestry Commission of those responsible for breaches of felling licences at Avon Forest Country Park, and the implications of the case for policy on the protection of trees for amenity reasons. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Chope: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the prosecution by the Forestry Commission of those responsible for breaches of felling licences at Avon Forest Country Park, and the implications of the case for policy on the protection of trees for amenity reasons. [147823] Mr. Morley: On 16 November 2000 in Poole magistrates court, an RSPB employee pleaded guilty to felling growing trees on land at Avon Heath Country Park between 1 July 1999 and 31 January 2000 without the authority of a felling licence. He was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £500 towards prosecution costs. The case has no implications for our policy on controlling the felling of trees. The Forestry Commission will continue to investigate all suspected breaches of the tree felling regulations and will prosecute when it is clear that an offence has been committed.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 147823; 362 c55W
Session: 2000-01
Subjects: Licensing Forests Prosecutions Nature conservation Tree felling Dorset Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk