§ Mr. ButlerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make an announcement about the composition of the board of the National Forest Company.
§ Mr. GummerMy right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and I have invited the following people to serve on the board of the National Forest Company.
ChairmanMr Rodney Swarbrick—(Lancashire farmer, former President of the Country Landowners Association, and currently a Countryside Commissioner)
- Directors
- Miss Bridget Bloom—(Journalist and Forestry Commissioner)
- Mr. Duncan Jeffray—(Nature conservation expert and current Chairman of the Royal Society for Nature Conservation)
- Mr. Derrick Penrose—(Fonner Chief Agent of the Chatsworth Estate)
- Mr. Geoff Steeley—(Local authority and planning expert, and current Director of Planning, Hertfordshire County Council)
- Mr. David Taylor—(Forestry consultant)
- Mr. John Thompson—(Responsible for access and recreation for the Peak District National Park)
- Mr. Rupert Wilkins—(Management consultant, local to the Forest area)
- Miss Susan Bell—(Chief Executive of National Forest Company)
The National Forest Company will commence operations on 3 April this year.