HC Deb 02 December 1981 vol 14 cc227-8
11. Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that the changes made concerning the statutory right of district councils to representations on national park boards and committees are adequate.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Neil Macfarlane)

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Knox

Is my hon. Friend aware that those of my constituents who live in the Peak District national park think that the board will be no more sensitive to their interests after the change has been made? Why cannot the Peak District national park board be directly elected by those who live in the area?

Mr. Macfarlane

I am aware of my hon. Friend's anxiety about matters that affect his constituency. If he reflected deeply, I believe that he would accept that elections are impractical. Many hon. Members have expressed concern that proper account should be taken of local interests in the administration of our national parks. I am confident that section 46 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act provides for the first time a statutory right of representation on such authorities by district councils. I hope that the local problems to which my hon. Friend referred will be resolved.

Dr. David Clark

Does the Minister accept that, whichever way national park boards and committees are constructed, unless they have the necessary finance they cannot do the job? When does the Minister expect to announce the next financial commitment to the national parks? Will he give the House an assurance that that will be adequate to meet the increasing demands upon the national parks?

Mr. Macfarlane

I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on his job as shadow spokesman on the Department of the Environment and welcome him to these deliberations. I know that it is not his first time on the Front Bench. The points that he made are matters on which we shall be having consultations progressively over the next few weeks. When any legislation is enacted, there are many things to be ironed out. Those are some of the things that I shall be discussing with the representatives, and my right hon. Friend will also do so.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I acknowledge that the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act have materially helped the situation. Nevertheless, is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a growing mood in some of the national parks that there should be direct representation of district councils on the planning committees of the national parks boards?

Mr. Macfarlane

I am aware of those comments, which have been made in some areas. I am anxious to point out that two-thirds of the members of all national park authorities, whether boards or committees, are appointed by the county councils concerned, and in virtually all cases are democratically elected members of either those councils or the district councils involved.