Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to align government-funded tree planting schemes with nursery production capacity, including allowing greater flexibility in planting timetables according to supply and ensuring grant rates adequately reflect the cost of supplying rare species and provenances.

Estimating supply and demand is complex. Nurseries must anticipate needs several years in advance as it takes between 1 and 4 years (depending on species) to grow a tree ready to plant. Through our relationship with forest nurseries, we are improving visibility and join-up across the sector. These insights will help Government respond quickly to market problems.