§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the policies and measures adopted by his Department in pursuit of his duty under Section 11 of the Countryside Act 1968 to have regard to the desirability of conserving the natural beauty and amenity of the countryside in the exercise of his functions relating to land.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list 409W the policies and measures adopted by his Department in pursuit of his duty under Section 11 of the Countryside Act 1968 to have regard to the desirability of conserving the natural beauty and amenity of the countryside in the exercise of his functions relating to land.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the policies and measures adopted by his Department in pursuit of his duty under Section 11 of the Countryside Act 1968 to have regard to the desirability of conserving the natural beauty and amenity of the countryside in the exercise of his functions relating to land.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the policies and measures adopted by his Department in pursuit of his duty under Section 11 of the Countryside Act 1968 to have regard to the desirability of conserving the natural beauty and amenity of the countryside in the exercise of his functions relating to land.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the policies and measures adopted by his Department in pursuit of his duty under Section 11 of the Countryside Act 1968 to have regard to the desirability of conserving the natural beauty and amenity of the countryside in the exercise of his functions relating to land.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the policies and measures adopted by his Department in pursuit of his duty under Section 11 of the Countryside Act 1968 to have regard to the desirability of conserving the natural beauty and amenity of the countryside in the exercise of his functions relating to land.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list the policies and measures adopted by her Department in pursuit of her duty under Section 11 of the Countryside Act 1968 to have regard to the desirability of conserving the natural beauty and amenity of the countryside in the exercise of her functions relating to land.
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§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the policies and measures adopted by his Department in pursuit of his duty under Section 11 of the Countryside Act 1968 to have regard to the desirability of conserving the natural beauty and amenity of the countryside in the exercise of his functions relating to land.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the policies and measures adopted by his Department in pursuit of his duty under Section 11 of the Countryside Act 1968 to have regard to the desirability of conserving the natural beauty and amenity of the countryside in the exercise of his functions relating to land.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the policies and measures adopted by his Department in pursuit of his duty under Section 11 of the Countryside Act 1968 to have regard to the desirability of conserving the natural beauty and amenity of the countryside in the exercise of his functions relating to land.
§ Mr. Denis HowellI have been asked to reply.
Section 11 requires regard to the desirability of conserving natural beauty and amenity rather than specific policies and measures and Departments do have such regard. In its broad responsibilities for the countryside my Department has recently taken two important initiatives.
Following a recommendation of the National Park Policies Review Committee—the Sandford Committee—as I informed the House on 26th January—[Vol. 942, cc. 705–6]—I wrote in association with my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Wales to public bodies owning land in the national parks, drawing attention to Section 11 and asking them to consider the positive contribution to the purposes of the national parks which they could make in managing their land. There has been a most encouraging response.
The Countryside Commission, in its document "New Agricultural Landscapes" published in January 1977, invited me, in conjunction with my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of 411W State for Wales to draw up guidelines for the use of all Government Departments holding and managing land and to commend the same guidelines to nationalised industries. My Department has initiated discussions with the Commission and the relevant departments and bodies in which the Section 11 obligation was stressed; and work is continuing towards the preparation of an agreed statement of principles which might be adopted.