Written question asked by Lindsay Hoyle (Labour) on Monday, 3 March 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 13 March 2003. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Thursday, 13 March 2003 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to increase plantation of trees to boost the supply of wood available as fuel in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to increase plantation of trees to boost the supply of wood available as fuel in the UK; and if she will make a statement. [101291] Mr. Morley: Forestry is a devolved matter, and the policies for tree planting in Scotland and Wales are therefore the responsibility of the Scottish Executive and the Welsh Assembly Government respectively. We are committed to increasing the use of renewable energy. This includes the use of woodfuel from both traditional woodland and short rotation coppice. There is already considerable scope for increased sustainable harvesting for woodfuel in existing woodland in England, and we also expect the area of woodland to continue to increase at its current rate of around 5,000 hectares per year. Support for woodland creation is provided by the Woodland Grant Scheme and Farm Woodland Premium Scheme, while the Energy Crops Scheme offers financial incentives for the establishment of short rotation coppice as woodfuel. A review of the support for woodland creation has been carried out, and the results will be published in the spring.

Secondary information