House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 16 Jun 2005 (pt 12)

16 Jun 2005 : Column 567W—continued

Thames Barrier

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the occasions on which the Thames Barrier has been

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closed in each year since its inception; and what estimate she has made of the number of occasions when it will be closed in (a) 2010, (b) 2020, (c) 2050 and (d) 2100. [4600]

Mr. Morley: The Thames Barrier is closed to protect London from high water levels in the River Thames. These high water levels result from tidal surge conditions in combination with high freshwater flows following rainfall over the Thames catchment. The Barrier closures may be characterised as predominantly tidal-influenced (T) or predominantly rainfall/fluvial-influenced (F). Since inception, the Thames Barrier has been closed to prevent flooding during the winter flood season (generally October to April) on 92 occasions as follows:

Tidal Fluvial Total

1982–83 1 0 1

1983–84 0 0 0

1984–85 0 0 0

1985–86 0 1 1

1986–87 1 0 1

1987–88 0 0 0

1988–89 1 0 1

1989–90 1 3 4

1990–91 1 0 1

1991–92 1 0 1

1992–93 4 0 4

1993–94 3 4 7

1999–95 2 2 4

1995–96 4 0 4

1996–97 1 0 1

1997–98 1 0 1

1998–99 2 0 2

1999–00 3 3 6

2000–01 16 8 24

2001–02 3 1 4

2002–03 8 12 20

2003–04 1 0 1

2004–05 3 0 3

2005–06 (to date) 1 0 1

	Tidal	Fluvial	Total
1982–83	1	0	1
1983–84	0	0	0
1984–85	0	0	0
1985–86	0	1	1
1986–87	1	0	1
1987–88	0	0	0
1988–89	1	0	1
1989–90	1	3	4
1990–91	1	0	1
1991–92	1	0	1
1992–93	4	0	4
1993–94	3	4	7
1999–95	2	2	4
1995–96	4	0	4
1996–97	1	0	1
1997–98	1	0	1
1998–99	2	0	2
1999–00	3	3	6
2000–01	16	8	24
2001–02	3	1	4
2002–03	8	12	20
2003–04	1	0	1
2004–05	3	0	3
2005–06 (to date)	1	0	1

Forecasting the frequency of future closures of the Thames Barrier depends on two principal factors:

(a) The impacts of climate change on sea and river levels based on the climate change scenarios currently available; and

(b) The extent to which these levels may be reduced by other flood risk management measures used within the Thames Estuary in conjunction with operation of the Thames Barrier.

Depending on the balance of factors described above, The Environment Agency's early studies indicate that the estimated frequency of closures will be as follows.

16 Jun 2005 : Column 569W

2010: 10—20 closures per year

2020: 20—35 closures per year

2050: 6*—75 closures per year

2100: 30*—325 closures per year

The lower figure for each year indicates the best predicted outcome based on lowest climate change scenario impacts and maximum use of flood management mitigation measures implemented from 2030 (shown by *). The higher figure for each year indicates the worst potential outcome based on maximum climate change predicted impacts with no additional flood management mitigation measures implemented from 2030.

The Environment Agency is currently planning for the future of flood risk management within the Thames Estuary. For this purpose, it has established a project called Thames Estuary 2100 based at the Thames Barrier. The purpose of the project is to produce a flood risk management plan for the tidal part of the Thames Estuary covering the next 100 years.

Trees

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the percentage tree cover in each EU member state was (a) on the latest date for which figures are available, (b) 10 years ago and (c) 20 years ago. [4444]

Jim Knight: Based on information collected by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation forest as a percentage of land area is given in the table as follows.

Country 2000⁽⁵⁾ 1990⁽⁵⁾ 1980⁽⁶⁾

Austria 47 46 45

Belgium/Luxembourg 22 23 23

Denmark 11 10 11

Finland 72 72 76

France 28 27 28

Germany 31 31 29

Greece 28 26 45

Ireland 10 7 6

Italy 34 33 27

Netherlands 11 11 10

Portugal 40 34 35

Spain 29 27 25

Sweden 66 66 68

United Kingdom 12 11 9

⁽⁵⁾FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000. Definitions of forest can vary between countries and over time.
⁽⁶⁾FAO The Forest Resources of the ECE Region, published 1985. The years covered vary between countries, although most are around 1980. Definitions of forest can vary between countries.

Country	2000⁽⁵⁾	1990⁽⁵⁾	1980⁽⁶⁾
Austria	47	46	45
Belgium/Luxembourg	22	23	23
Denmark	11	10	11
Finland	72	72	76
France	28	27	28
Germany	31	31	29
Greece	28	26	45
Ireland	10	7	6
Italy	34	33	27
Netherlands	11	11	10
Portugal	40	34	35
Spain	29	27	25
Sweden	66	66	68
United Kingdom	12	11	9

The next international compilation will be the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation's Forest Resource Assessment 2005, which is expected to be published in the autumn.

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps (a) have been taken and (b) are planned to improve tree health. [4445]

Jim Knight: The need to maintain, and improve where necessary, the health and vitality of trees is integral to the Government's approach to sustainable forest

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management. We have set this out in the UK Forestry Standard and its supporting literature, which contain many specific measures for protecting woodland and improving tree health. All woodland management by the Forestry Commission is consistent with this standard and we expect private woodland owners that receive grant aid from the Forestry Commission to also meet the standard. The Government have encouraged the development of the voluntary UK Woodland Assurance Standard that provides an independent verification of compliance with good practice and measures to ensure the continuing good health of woodland. We shall continue to ensure compliance with the UK Forest Standard in those woods managed by the Forestry Commission and encourage it in the private sector.

We will also continue to improve, through research, our knowledge of factors affecting tree health and we shall maintain a vigilant guard against the establishment of non-native pests and diseases. For example, there is a determined effort, led by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Forestry Commission, to contain and eradicate the diseases of trees and shrubs caused by the pathogens Phytophthora ramorum and Phytophthora kernoviae.

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total (a) area and (b) production in cubic metres of (i)broadleaf and (ii) coniferous woodland in England has been in each year since 1980, broken down by region. [4446]

Jim Knight: A national woodland survey is carried out by the Forestry Commission at intervals of between 15 and 20 years. Comparative areas of woodland ¹ in 1980 and 1998 were published in the latest National Inventory of Woodland and Trees, Regional Inventory reports. The figures are given in the table as follows.

1980⁽⁸⁾ thousand hectares
1998⁽⁹⁾ thousand hectares

Region Broadleaves Conifers Broadleaves Conifers

North-East 16.2 73.3 24.5 69.2

North-West 33.0 39.4 46.7 39.8

Yorkshire and the
Humber 39.0 37.4 46.1 35.4

East Midlands 37.8 21.6 52.9 17.9

West Midlands 44.1 28.3 63.1 25.7

East of England 59.4 40.7 90.2 37.5

London 5.4 0.3 5.5 0.2

South East 138.2 59.1 173.6 52.4

South West 95.7 63.8 137.4 60.8

Total England 468.8 363.9 640.0 338.9

⁽⁷⁾Excluding open space, coppice and felled areas awaiting replanting.
⁽⁸⁾1980 Census of Woodland
⁽⁹⁾National Inventory of Woodland and Trees—Regional Inventory Reports. Reference dates varied by region 1995 to 1999.
Notes:
1.Differences in sampling methodology between 1980 and 1998 may account for some of the differences.
2.In the 1980 Census the area assigned to broadleaves and conifers included any associated open space such as roads and rides. In the 1998 Inventory open spaces are separately identified and to obtain meaningful comparison between the two datasets the 1980 Census data has been reduced by the percentage of open space identified in the 1998 Inventory (Nationally 6.5 per cent.).

16 Jun 2005 : Column 571W

	1980⁽⁸⁾ thousand hectares	1998⁽⁹⁾ thousand hectares
Region	Broadleaves	Conifers	Broadleaves	Conifers
North-East	16.2	73.3	24.5	69.2
North-West	33.0	39.4	46.7	39.8
Yorkshire and the Humber	39.0	37.4	46.1	35.4
East Midlands	37.8	21.6	52.9	17.9
West Midlands	44.1	28.3	63.1	25.7
East of England	59.4	40.7	90.2	37.5
London	5.4	0.3	5.5	0.2
South East	138.2	59.1	173.6	52.4
South West	95.7	63.8	137.4	60.8
Total England	468.8	363.9	640.0	338.9

Timber production is not recorded by region and the estimate for total England production is given in the table as follows.

Removals in million cubic metres overbark
standing⁽¹⁰⁾

Hardwoods (from broadleafed trees) Softwood (from conifer trees)

1980 1.2 1.3

1981 1.2 1.3

1982 1.0 1.4

1983 0.8 1.4

1984 0.8 1.5

1985 0.9 1.5

1986 0.9 1.7

1987 0.8 1.9

1988 1.1 2.3

1989 1.2 2.5

1990 1.1 2.5

1991 1.1 2.5

1992 0.8 2.6

1993 0.7 2.3

1994 0.8 2.6

1995 0.9 2.5

1996 0.8 2.4

1997 0.8 2.2

1998 0.7 2.1

1999 0.7 2.2

2000 0.6 2.1

2001 0.6 2.0

2002 0.6 1.8

2003 0.5 2.1

2004⁽¹¹⁾ 0.5 2.4

16 Jun 2005 : Column 572W

	Removals in million cubic metres overbark standing⁽¹⁰⁾
	Hardwoods (from broadleafed trees)	Softwood (from conifer trees)
1980	1.2	1.3
1981	1.2	1.3
1982	1.0	1.4
1983	0.8	1.4
1984	0.8	1.5
1985	0.9	1.5
1986	0.9	1.7
1987	0.8	1.9
1988	1.1	2.3
1989	1.2	2.5
1990	1.1	2.5
1991	1.1	2.5
1992	0.8	2.6
1993	0.7	2.3
1994	0.8	2.6
1995	0.9	2.5
1996	0.8	2.4
1997	0.8	2.2
1998	0.7	2.1
1999	0.7	2.2
2000	0.6	2.1
2001	0.6	2.0
2002	0.6	1.8
2003	0.5	2.1
2004⁽¹¹⁾	0.5	2.4

¹ Based on figures published in Forestry Facts and Figures for 1980–94, adjusted to consistent definition. Later figures for private sector removals estimated from a GB survey for 2000–04 and interpolated.

² Figures for 2004 are currently provisional.

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