§ 103. Brigadier Raynerasked the Minister of Town and Country Planning why, in view of the fact that the National Parks Committee recommended that Dartmoor should hold fourth place among all the potential national parks in England and Wales, before holding a public inquiry into training areas pro posed on Dartmoor, he, himself, took the initiative in calling a conference on 11th 150W April and other dates whereby, with his concurrence, the Service Departments and local authorities reached a provisional agreement to allow training areas on Dartmoor, which disqualify, approximately, one-quarter of the moor for use as a national park and limit the recreational value of the rest.
§ Mr. F. MarshallA conference at Exeter on 11th April was called by the Devon County Council to enable the negotiating committee, on behalf of local authorities, to discuss Service land requirements on Dartmoor with representatives of the Services concerned. The chairman of the county planning committee, who was also chairman of the negotiating committee, presided. Representatives of the M.O.T.C.P. also attended. The provisional agreement reached at this conference will come under the further consideration of the Government when the report of the public local inquiry recently held is received. I am surprised that there should be the suggestion that it is a matter for reproach that my Department helped in reconciling conflicting views.