Written question asked by Elfyn Llwyd (Plaid Cymru) on Thursday, 14 October 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 21 October 2004. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Thursday, 21 October 2004 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 financial incentives are available to farmers who wish to plant trees; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial incentives are available to farmers who wish to plant trees; and if she will make a statement. [192202] Mr. Bradshaw: The Forestry Commission's Woodland Grant Scheme is the main source of incentives available to farmers who wish to plant trees. This may be combined with Defra's Farm Woodland Premium Scheme which provides annual payments, based on income foregone, for areas of new farm woodlands. The Woodland Grant Scheme provides incentives to plant areas of trees of 0.25 hectares and above; support for smaller areas of tree planting is available under Defra's Countryside Stewardship Scheme. In England, the Woodland Grant Scheme is currently closed to new applications and will be replaced by the new English Woodland Grant Scheme, which will open for applications in 2005. The new scheme will combine the incentives available under the separate Forestry Commission (WGS) and Defra (FWPS) schemes into one application process for farmers. Defra's Environmental Stewardship Scheme, to be introduced in 2005, will also provide incentives for small-scale tree planting.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 425 c843W; 192202
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Farmers Subsidies Trees Tree planting Countryside stewardship scheme Woodland grant scheme Farm woodland premium scheme
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk