Rural Economy

Earl of Kinnoull Excerpts

Wednesday 27th April 2016 Grand Committee

[The Earl of Kinnoull (CB)]

My Lords, I, too, congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady McIntosh, on tabling this important Question. I will make two points. The first concerns the economic and biodiversity damage done by the invasive alien species, the grey squirrel. Here I declare my interests as set out in the register; in particular, as chairman of the UK Squirrel Accord, which has 34 signatories comprising the four Governments within the UK, the relevant private sector bodies and the relevant voluntary bodies. The accord has twin aims: first, to promote the survival of the red squirrel; and, secondly, to try to do something about the great damage done to our broadleaf trees by the rapidly expanding population of grey squirrels.

The damage done by grey squirrels is caused by their ring-barking the trees. Trees aged between 10 and 40 years have their bark gnawed away so that the grey squirrels can get at and suck the sap. This kills the trees or, at best, kills them above the area of ring-barking, and causes the rural economy, according to industry estimates, tens of millions of pounds a year of damage to this very large and important industry. It means that for the oak, beech and other broadleaf trees in our country, there are no replacements coming up for the existing stock of old trees. People are stopping planting these trees and it is a big problem. The accord represents a determined effort to co-ordinate UK efforts, involving many scientists and others, to address this. The Minister is highly engaged and knowledgeable about everything and very generous with his time—indeed, Defra is a signatory—but I would like him to affirm his determination on this very difficult issue.

Secondly, I raise the England Coast Path. This admirable initiative of Natural England is going to produce 2,800 miles of coastal path around England by 2020. Last month a 60-mile section in Somerset was opened. It provides enormous benefits to the countryside through people coming to visit. Indeed, the South West Coast Path reports that it generates more than £400 million a year to the local economy. There is a second benefit to the nation in that going for a walk makes people healthier and this reduces costs and burdens on the NHS. There are various estimates of that running into millions of pounds. I ask the Minister to join me in congratulating Natural England on its energetic handling of this tremendous initiative, which benefits not only the rural economy but the health of our fellow citizens.