§ Baroness Nicolasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consulted the chairmen designate of the proposed country councils and Scottish natural heritage agency before responding to the House of Lords Select Committee's report on the Nature Conservancy Council, and if so, on what dates.
§ Lord HeskethRegular discussions with the chairmen designate of the three new country councils and the joint committee have encompassed the issues dealt with in the Select Committee's report. The Government were therefore able to take account of the views of the chairmen-designate in preparing their response to the report.