National Parks: Legislation (Hansard, 23 June 1994)

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (The Earl of Arran)
My Lords, it remains our firm intention to introduce National Parks legislation as soon as there is an opportunity to do so. We very much appreciate the efforts of my noble friend in promoting his Bill to give the National Parks independent status and recognise the wide support that it attracted.

§ Lord Norrie
My Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for that Answer. However, can he expand upon what the Government propose in the way of future legislation on National Parks?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, I can tell my noble friend that not only will our legislation include the setting up of new authorities for the 10 National Parks in England and Wales, but we shall also take the opportunity to revise and update National Park purposes. In taking forward our own legislation, we have also undertaken to consider introducing a duty on Ministers to further National Park purposes.

§ Lord Williams of Elvel
My Lords, given the Government's firm intention to introduce legislation, will the noble Earl accept help from the Opposition? We approve of this particular measure, which was mentioned in the Conservative manifesto of 1992. To that effect, is the noble Earl aware that I tabled amendments this morning to the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill (under the contracting-out section) which would achieve the purposes of the National Parks Bill, which is now defunct, and those of the noble Lord, Lord Norrie? Subject to drafting, and given the time spent by your Lordships on the matter, will the Government give my amendments a fair wind?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, I can tell the noble Lord, Lord Williams, that I became aware a very short time ago of the amendments that he has tabled. I do not think that the noble Lord will expect me to give a definitive answer at this time, other than to say that, obviously, we shall look very carefully at his amendments and take them into consideration.

§ Lord Howell
My Lords, having regard to the welcome nature of the Bill, can the Minister tell the House what arrangements will be contained in it to 414 ensure that there is proper liaison between the local authorities concerned and that they will, perhaps, have some right of membership on the new parks authorities?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, it is certainly our firm intention that two-thirds of the membership of the new authorities shall consist of local authority members, with the remaining one-third being appointed by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State.

§ Baroness White
My Lords, can the Minister tell the House how the Government intend to deal with the situation which will presumably arise when the Local Government (Wales) Bill returns to this Chamber from another place next week? There are certain provisions in that Bill which directly relate to National Parks in Wales. We shall have a very difficult situation if certain provisions are made in the Local Government (Wales) Bill, while other necessities, including local representation, to which my noble friend referred, will not be addressed at all. What do the Government intend to do about that very unsatisfactory situation?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, as the noble Baroness knows, the National Parks provisions in the Local Government (Wales) Bill are limited to what is necessary to establish the parks in Wales as joint or special planning boards. The Bill will carry forward the current provisions in respect of National Park membership and local consultation.

§ Baroness Nicol
My Lords, as usual, my noble friend Lord Williams of Elvel is ingenious. I wait with interest to hear the terms of his amendments. However, can the Minister assure the House that, whether he uses that particular vehicle or whether it is to come in another way, the Government have not lost sight of the proposals in the report, Fit for the Future, which is now known as the Edwards Report? Is it the Government's intention that those objectives remain the same, however they are reached?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, everything that is contained in the Bill will be carefully considered. I would not want the noble Baroness in any way to think that the Government have lost their commitment, their will or their determination that the Bill should reach the statute book as soon as possible, at the appropriate time.