§ 22. Mr. McFallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made on the recommendations of the Edwards committee on the future of national parks.
§ Mr. HowardOur policy statement on the national parks, published in January 1992, welcomed the general thrust of the report of the Edwards panel and the recommendations for the future of the national parks subsequently put to us by the Countryside Commission and the Countryside Council for Wales. The statement also promised legislation to restate national park purposes and to establish independent authorities for the eight national parks currently run as county council committees. We fully recognise the importance of this legislation and I have made it clear that it will be introduced at the earliest opportunity.