Scottish forestry grants scheme to be fine tuned

The Scottish Executive's new forestry grants scheme is to be fine-tuned in the New Year (2004) - and its users are being asked to suggest improvements that could be made.

Early experience of the scheme in operation has demonstrated that it is working well. However, as is often the case with new schemes, a small number of areas have arisen where there is potential for refinement.

Forestry Commission Scotland, which serves as the Executive's forestry department, is inviting grant scheme users, such as farmers, land owners, land managers and forestry consultants, to feed in comments on their early experience of the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme (SFGS). It will then take these views into account when considering what improvements can be made to the scheme.

Forestry Minister Allan Wilson said,

"Early experience of the grant scheme in operation has shown up a number of areas where some improvements could be made. We already know of some aspects where there is potential for fine tuning, but before we go ahead and make these changes we want to hear from users whether there are other aspects that could also be improved.

"We have, therefore, produced a paper to stimulate feedback, and this is available to anyone with an interest in commenting on the grant scheme. We wish to hear from existing users and others interested in the scheme, so we would strongly encourage stakeholders to read the paper and give us their views."

Responses can be made in writing, preferably by e-mailing the document to Forestry Commission Scotland. The outcome of this grant refinement exercise will be widely disseminated and made publicly available on the Commission's website.