DEFRA

"Government plans huge sell-off of Britain's forests", warned the Independent. "Ministers plan huge sell-off of Britain's forests", said the Telegraph.

However, the Scottish Government and Forestry Commission Scotland moved quickly to refute such claims:

"The current media reports are very unhelpful and totally misleading. What is more, they are raising fears unnecessarily for the Scottish forestry industry and for the Commission's staff working in Scotland.

"Forestry is a devolved matter and has been for a number of years now. That means any decisions affecting the future of Scotland's national forests do not lie with Westminster but with Scottish Ministers. There is no review of Forestry Commission Scotland.

"The Scottish Government is committed to forestry in Scotland. We believe Scotland's national forests are a very precious asset. They provide employment, support the timber and tourism industries and have a major role to play in tackling climate change.

"There is an on-going review of the functions and operations of the Forestry Commission in England but I want to make it clear that this review does not and cannot extend to Scotland.

Quite why the British press would report that Britain's forests were to be flogged off when the Government's plans only affect England remains a mystery. Only a few days earier James Paice had been very specific about the territorial extent of the Government's plans:

The Forestry Commission and DEFRA will publish a consultation later in the year that will seek views on the implementation of a new strategic approach for forestry in England.

Hansard, Written answers and statements, 20 October 2010

The Campaign for an English Parliament has warned previously about the fire-sale of English assets to service United Kingdom debt. (see CEP: Brown's £16bn fire sale of England's assets).

A few years ago the BBC's Radio Times advertised the Proms with this advert (which I took the liberty of scanning).

It looks innocuous enough until you notice that they have included all the national flags of the UK except the St George's Cross.

Yesterday Aunty Beeb cocked up again:

Again it seems innocuous enough until you read the Audit Commision report and realise that it is English farmers, rather than 'UK farmers', that have incurred costs of between £18 million and £22.5 million in additional interest and arrangement fees on loans due to the ineptitude of DEFRA and negligence of the UK government.

As the Telegraph reported back in March:

While farmers in Scotland and Wales have already received their annual payments and at least one EU country paid their farmers in December, most English farmers will wait to be paid until a meltdown at the Rural Payments Agency is sorted out.

Not only is it time for an English government, it is also time for a BBC England.

See Waking Hereward.