Government response

Forestry consultation:myth busted

The decision to end the forestry consultation will not lead to cuts to the budget for flood defences, animal health or any other area.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 20 February 2011

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The myth: The Sunday Telegraph suggests that the decision to end the consultation on forestry sales will mean budget cuts in other areas such as flood defences, animal health and national parks.

The truth: The decision to end the forestry consultation will not lead to any further cuts to the Defra budget for flood defences, animal health or any other area. As this was a consultation, no potential sales were factored into the savings required to meet our Spending Review settlement, and therefore there will be no impact on Defra’s spending plans in other areas.

Published 20 February 2011