§ 2.45 p.m.
Viscount ROCHDALEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Secretary of State for the Environment can be expected to give his decisions on the Inspector's report following the public inquiry held during the summer of 1976 on the use and control of power boats in the Lake District.
§ The MINISTER of STATE, HOME OFFICE (Lord Harris of Greenwich)My Lords, this decision rests with my 1282 right honourable friend the Home Secretary, although he is consulting my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on the questions of policy that concern him. The barrister who held the public inquiry submitted his report to my right honourable friend in March. It raises issues of principle about how far people's freedom to use a National Park for sport and recreation can properly be restricted. My right honourable friends need some time to consider these issues, but a decision will be reached as soon as possible.
Viscount ROCHDALEMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply, but it does not take us much further than the reply that was given in writing in another place at the beginning of March. Can the noble Lord say whether it is to be inferred from his reply that, whatever the resulting orders may say—and there are three—they are unlikely to come into operation before 1978? Does he agree that the longer the delay the more entrenched will become those who practise the various activities, some dangerous, some disturbing, which the draft orders were intended to curb?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHMy Lords, as I indicated in my original reply, quite complicated issues are involved in this matter. Certainly, my right honourable friend is anxious to give his judgment as soon as he can and, as I understand the situation, he will then decide when the orders should come into operation. Certainly, there are difficulties here, but my right honourable friend understands perfectly the desire of many people to have a decision made and he is studying the matter at the moment.
§ Lord WADEMy Lords, would the noble Lord agree that the attraction of the Lake District lies not only in the beauty of the landscape but also in the peace and quiet which is, or was, associated with it? May I take it that that is one of the factors that are being taken into account in considering the control of the further use of power boats?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHYes, my Lords; that is clearly one of the factors that arise.