§ Mr. Hoggasked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what is the policy of the Government regarding national parks; and whether it is proposed to set up a National Parks Commission.
§ Mr. SilkinA Committee, under the chairmanship of Sir Arthur Hobhouse, was appointed in August of this year with the following terms of reference:
- (a) to consider the proposals in the Report on National Parks in England and Wales (Cmd. 6628) of May, 1945, as to the areas which should be selected as National Parks; and to make recommendations in regard to the special requirements and appropriate boundaries of those areas which, in the view of the Committee, should be first selected;
- (b) to consider and report on the proposals made in that Report as to the measures neces-
386 sary to secure the objects of National Parks, and on any additional measures which in the view of the Committee are necessary to secure those objects; and - (c) to consider and make recommendations on such other matters affecting the establishment of National Parks and the Conservation of Wild Life as may be referred by the Minister to the Committee.
The Committee is actively engaged on its work and it is hoped that its Report will be available within, a year from its appointment. It would be undesirable to prejudge the findings of the Committee by a statement now on the matter raised in the second part of the Question.