Written question asked by Diana Organ (Labour) on Wednesday, 5 February 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 12 February 2003. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Wednesday, 12 February 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 difficulties were experienced by (a) the Forestry Commission and (b) DEFRA staff with the two closing dates per year for the Woodland Grant Scheme, in each year since 2000.

Answer: Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what difficulties were experienced by (a) the Forestry Commission and (b) DEFRA staff with the two closing dates per year for the Woodland Grant Scheme, in each year since 2000. [96861] Mr. Morley: The Forestry Commission has found that any delays to the processing of grant applications made late in the year could result in applications not being approved in time for implementation during the current planting season. These delays can be for a number of reasons, including the resolution of issues between the Commission and the applicant and resolving items raised during the consultation process. Defra do not process the Woodland Grant Scheme (WGS), but process the associated Farm Woodland Premium Scheme (FWPS). Therefore any delays to a WGS application which has a parallel FWPS application can have a knock on effect within Defra.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 96861; 399 c856W;399 c854W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Applications Administrative delays Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Grants Forestry Forestry Commission Tree planting Woodland grant scheme
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk