43. Mr. H. D. Hughesasked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he will make a statement on the result of his consultations with the Minister of Health on steps to be taken to implement the recommendations of the Gathering Grounds Sub-Committee concerning public access.
§ Mr. KingProvision has been made in the National Parks Bill for making open country available for access. Where such open country includes gathering grounds, my right hon. Friend has agreed with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health that there will be consultation between our two Departments about the application of the access provisions.
Mr. HughesIs my hon. Friend aware that it is some months since his right hon. Friend informed me that consultations of this kind were taking place and only a few weeks ago that the Minister of Health told me that there was nothing to report? Must these developments await the passing of the National Parks Bill?
§ Mr. KingThe answer I gave was that consultation would take place over particular gathering grounds to which it was thought access might be made and those consultations would take place at the time the order was about to be made.