§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) when the new Countryside Agency is scheduled to begin work; [72674]
(2) if he will list the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and board members of the new Countryside Agency. [72676]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Countryside Agency will come into existence on 1 April 1999. Work to establish the Agency successfully has been going on for some time, led by a Merger Steering Group comprising the Chairmen, board members and Chief Executives of the two existing Commissions.
We will make an announcement about the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and board members of the Agency shortly.