To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe report on the health of trees in Europe, published on 5 September, with particular reference to its evaluation of trees in the United Kingdom. [40287]
| Minis 15 (1994–95) | Minis 16 (1995–96) | |||
| Distributed1 | Sold | Distributed1 | Sold | |
| Principal Establishment and Finance Officer | 70 | 3 | 95 | 5 |
| Local Government and Planning | 69 | 5 | 95 | 7 |
| Housing and Construction | 74 | 3 | 95 | 5 |
| Environment Protection Group | 80 | 6 | 95 | 11 |
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe report draws on an annual survey of the conditions of forest trees conducted by the Forestry Commission.The latest report records that the condition of trees in the United Kingdom in 1995 was better than the average for countries in the North Atlantic region of Europe. There were no major changes in crown condition compared to 1994 for oak, Norway spruce, Sitka spruce or Scots pine but, as in other countries, there was a marked deterioration in the condition of beech which was a natural effect of a heavy seeding year.