HC Deb 04 December 1989 vol 163 cc36-7W
Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to delay any decision to merge the Nature Conservancy Council with the Countryside Commission until he has presented the Government's white paper on environmental policy; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Trippier

The Government have no plans to delay the reorganisation of the conservation agencies announced in July. Postponement would increase uncertainty among the staff of the existing agencies, and would not be in the interests of conservation.