§ Mr. Macfarlaneasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the terms of reference, and who are the members, of the inter-departmental review of the countryside policy; and when the report will be completed.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe terms of reference are
To review, in relation to land outside urban areas, the state of the countryside and the pressures upon it;To examine the effect of existing policies for, or having an impact upon, the countryside and the extent to which they are adequate to contain or modify or accept the pressures;Given the existence of other major policy objectives, including the maintenance of agricultural production, to consider whether changes of policy or of practice are necessary to reconcile these objectives where they conflict with the conservation of the countryside the enhancement of its natural beauty, and its enjoyment by the public;And to make recommendations ".The review does not extend to Scotland. The review committee is made up of officials of my own Department, the Welsh Office and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and, in 474W a personal capacity, of the principal public agencies concerned. Other Government Departments are consulted as necessary.
The intention is, starting this summer, to publish a series of papers on the main issues considered, as a basis for public discussion.