To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding his Department allocated for the preservation of trees in (a) Mid Bedfordshire and (b) the East of England in each year since 1997. (278589)

I have been asked to reply.

Local planning authorities are responsible for making and administering tree preservation orders. Funding for this function is contained in the Revenue Support Grant and is not ring-fenced. The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.