HC Deb 24 May 2000 vol 350 c959
7. Mr. Martin Caton (Gower)

What recent representations he has received about the protection of areas of outstanding natural beauty in Wales. [122183]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. David Hanson)

I have received no recent representations about the protection of areas of outstanding natural beauty in Wales.

Mr. Caton

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. I am sure that he knows that Gower was the first designated AONB in the whole country. The message that I get from people concerned with defending Gower's high-quality landscape and habitat is that current legislation is inadequate when it comes to protection and management. The Countryside and Rights of Way Bill currently before Parliament provides an opportunity to rectify that. Will my hon. Friend press his colleagues in Government to take the opportunity that the Bill presents?

Mr. Hanson

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for drawing to the House's attention the question of areas of outstanding natural beauty in Gower. Such areas are important, and Wales has many of them. I am pleased to be able to tell my hon. Friend that the Government have carefully considered issues that have been brought forward in the Committee considering the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill. The Government will consider tabling amendments to the Bill to achieve better conservation and management of areas of outstanding natural beauty. That will certainly help areas of outstanding natural beauty in Wales, such as those in Gower and in my constituency.

Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York)

I have served on the Committee considering the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill with the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd), and I think that we have all learned something about areas of outstanding natural beauty in Wales.

I am disappointed by the Minister's reply. Can he not give the House an assurance that areas of outstanding natural beauty in Wales, as in other parts of the United Kingdom, will be strengthened under the Bill?

Mr. Hanson

As I said to my hon. Friend, and I will repeat it to the hon. Lady, the Government are giving careful consideration to the discussions that took place during the course of the Bill's proceedings. The Government are looking at the possibility of introducing amendments to help support and strengthen areas of outstanding natural beauty.