HC Deb 09 April 2001 vol 366 cc371-2W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) when he will publish regulations on the establishment of access forums; [157155]

(2) if regulations to be made under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 will require local authorities to advertise locally and notify relevant groups which already exist before access forums are established; and if he will make a statement.[157156]

Mr. Meacher

We expect to cons it on the proposed requirements for local access forums in England during the summer. Our proposals will include provision for the appointment of forum members and consultation by authorities with relevant interests prior to making appointments. We expect to lay regulations before Parliament before the end of the year.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and d e Regions if he will list those local authorities that have established an access forum; if, in each case, the proposed establishment of the body was(a) advertised locally and (b) notified to rights of way groups; and if he will make a statement. [157154]

Mr. Meacher

No local access forums can be established under Part V of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 until regulations have, been made by the Secretary of State under section 94 of the Act. Some local authorities operate informal consultative groups to discuss issues relating to access and rights of way. No information

Ms Beverley Hughes

The principal funding that this Department has provided to Amber Valley Borough Council and Derbyshire County Council between 1997–98 and 2001–02 is shown in the tables. These include grants and borrowing approvals for revenue and capital expenditure.

It is not possible to determine how much of this money Derbyshire County Council has spent on Amber Valley constituency. It is for the local authority to decide where within its boundary these resources are applied.

is held centrally about which authorities have done so. We welcome initiatives by local authorities to set up such groups ahead of any statutory system, and the Countryside Agency has issued guidance to authorities on how best this might be done.