§ 26. Mr. Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to designate further National Parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty.
§ The Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Peter Walker)I am currently considering an order designating part of the Wye Valley as an area of outstanding natural beauty. I am pleased to say that 16 per cent. of the land surface of England is already designated as either a National Park or an area of outstanding natural beauty. I shall be pleased to consider any proposals for increasing this percentage.
§ Mr. ChapmanI thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. Does he agree with the principle that designation of National Parks should be based not only upon choosing areas for preservation of the inherent beauty of those parks but also deliberately taking parts of the country—not excluding urban areas, and certainly including derelict areas—which are ripe for a face-lift?
§ Mr. WalkerWe want to extend positive policies in face-lifting bad urban areas, but I should have thought that designation as a National Park is not the right machinery. There are certain areas where we can clear derelict land and thereafter they can be designated as areas of natural beauty.
§ Mr. John SilkinDoes the Secretary of State now consider it appropriate to issue a directive on what sort of development he would regard as appropriate in the National Park areas? There has peen considerable controversy about this.
§ Mr. WalkerIt is clear that there is a strong case against development in the National Park areas unless there are strong and remarkable reasons for doing so. Providing that Governments pursue that attitude there will be no problem.