HC Deb 15 December 1978 vol 960 cc538-9W
Mr. Mike Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the total numbers of staff and the numbers of men and women, respectively, at the latest available date in each grade from administrative trainee upwards in his Department.

Mr. Shore:

19,311 were employed in my Department—including the Property Services Agency—on 1st October 1978 in the grades administration trainee and above. The numbers in each grade and its equivalents—including staff providing common services for both my Department and the Department of Transport—were:

second review has started to take place; and what steps he is taking to ensure that no bridle path, public right of way and footpath is lost through the failure of the North Riding of Yorkshire county council to expedite its review and to expedite its statutory duty.

Mr. Marks:

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is at present in consultation with the county councils in connection with objections to the special review of the definitive footpath map prepared by the former East Riding for its area and which now falls partly within North Yorkshire and partly within Humberside.

The definitive footpath map for this area was published in 1968 as a result of directions by the then Minister under section 37 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 to expedite its completion. In order to hasten publication of the map, claims that public paths had been omitted and objections relating to inclusion, location or status were disregarded and these paths were excluded from the definitive map. The special review now before the Secretary of State, in addition to updating the map, seeks to establish the correct position with regard to paths set aside when the definitive map was published. At this stage it appears that four inquiries and three hearings may have to be held before work on the review map can be completed. The remaining objections are likely to be resolved as a result of negotiations now taking place between the county councils, objectors, the Ramblers' Association and other interested parties.

By virtue of paragraph 30 of schedule 17 to the Local Government Act 1972 a surveying authority is required to review all the footpath maps and statements for the whole of its area at one and the same time. Until the Secretary of State has completed his consideration of objections and representations with respect to the special review map, the next review of the definitive footpath maps by North Yorkshire and Humberside county council cannot be published. Work on the special review map is going ahead as quickly as staff resources allow and is expected to be completed in 1979–80.