Baroness Millerof Hendon asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether any ministerial or departmental direction was given to the Royal Parks Agency to reopen the Royal deer parks in London which had been closed as a foot and mouth disease precaution [HL1920]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMinisterial direction was to adhere to MAFF advice. The decision to reopen these Royal Parks was taken jointly by officials of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Royal Parks Agency and Historic Royal Palaces in the light of information provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
§ Baroness Miller of Hendonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether any meeting, e-mail or telephone contact took place between Mr. William Weston, the Chief Executive of the Royal Parks Agency, the Ministers or officials in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport or the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions in the two weeks before the reopening on 11th April of the Royal deer parks in London that had been closed as a foot and mouth disease precaution; and what representations, if any, were made by Mr. Weston or the Royal Parks Agency for or against the reopening. [HL1921]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyIn the two weeks before the reopening of the Royal Parks, the Chief Executive of the Royal Parks Agency and his deputy had one regular meeting with officials from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport at which, amongst other things, the subject was discussed. During this period there were a number of telephone calls between Royal Parks officials and officials at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and on one occasion a call involving officials of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. During these discussions, the agency and officials agreed that they were keen to see the parks re-open but only when it was judged safe to do so.