§ Lord Gainfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What advice has been given to local authorities and other bodies in Wales about the potential establishment of the national park authorities provided for in the Environment Bill.
Lord LucasMy right honourable Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has today announced in 127WA another place that he has issued advice to the local authorities in Wales about the national park authorities which he intends to establish for the three national parks in Wales should the Environment Bill receive Royal Assent. A copy of this advice has been placed in the Library of this House.
The advice also covers the interaction between the national park provisions in the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 and the Environment Bill, and the effect that local government reorganisation will have on the process of establishing Welsh national park authorities.
Further guidance will be issued once the Environment Bill is enacted, and comments are being sought from the local authorities and other bodies in the interim.
The national park authorities in Wales will operate with the same purposes and duties, and with the same relationship towards their constituent local authorities as those in England.