§ Mr. Blenkinsopasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what administration and other action he is taking to 481W carry out the recommendations of the Porchester Report regarding Exmoor.
§ Mr. Denis HowellI told the House on 29th November last that my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food would be giving urgent consideration to Lord Porchester's recommendations for conserving the exceptionally important areas of moorland on Exmoor.
I should like to thank all those bodies which were consulted at very short notice and whose comments have helped my right hon. Friends in reaching their own conclusions. It is clear that Lord Porchester's closely argued and balanced recommendations have been welcomed in principle by all those who care for Exmoor, even if they may have some reservations about specific aspects of the proposals.
My right hon. Friends particularly welcome the prompt and positive response of the Exmoor National Park Committee to Lord Porchester's report. The Committee has already arranged to carry out the survey and prepare the maps which Lord Porchester suggested. The maps will identify the heartland and other areas of moor and heath of exceptional value which ought, if humanly possible, to be secured for all time; and the wider area of moor and heath which may need to be conserved and managed but where there will not be such a strong presumption against moorland conversion. In this context, the Committee has formally adopted the policy objectives proposed to them by Lord Porchester. It has also taken first steps toward establishing a standing advisory committee of all users of the moor which will help it to reach a balanced view on the best interests of conservation and the social and economic life of the area.
For their part, my right hon. Friends accept the recommendations which Lord Porchester addressed to them with a very few reservations. Thus, they have concluded that it would be appropriate for them to decide jointly whether to confirm any moorland conservation orders made by the National Park Authority in order to protect specific areas of moorland and to be able to initiate such orders themselves.
482WMy right hon. Friends accept Lord Porchester's recommendation that compensation should be payable for the restrictions so imposed. A number of points remain to be sorted out. But they are not disposed to accept that the burden of compensation should fall wholly on central Government funds. They will be having further consultations on this and other outstanding issues.
Legislation will be needed for the introduction of moorland conservation orders and to settle the basis of compensation. Following Lord Sandford's report on the National Parks, we are already committed to providing specific powers for all National Park authorities to enter into management agreements and to make payments for operations performed in the interests of a National Park. The Government intend to introduce legislation on these matters as soon as possible but cannot foresee being able to do so this Session.
It would be a matter of deep regret, not least, I am sure, to those who live on Exmoor, if important areas of moorland were lost before statutory powers became available. Fortunately, given the will on all sides, most of Lord Porchester's recommendations can be implemented without legislation by agreement between individual farmers and the public bodies concerned.
We hope that fanners will not consider converting moorland, but that, if they see no alternative, they will notify the NPA under the "gentlemen's agreement". Officers of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will be ready to discuss with individual farmers—and, where appropriate, the NPA—possible alternative farming programmes and sources of income. We hope that the NPA will be prepared to enter into management agreements to protect moorland on a temporary basis without prejudice to any provisions which Parliament may later enact, or to make opportunity purchases where that would be more appropriate.
In performing their advisory and grant aid functions, MAFF staff have regard to their Minister's obligations under Section 11 of the Countryside Act 1968 and will give special weight to the views of the NPA on the future use of specific areas of moorland.
483WMy right hon. Friend has been advised that the EEC farm modernisation directive allows him to take account of the effect on the amenity and natural beauty of Exmoor in deciding whether or not to approve a grant application for the ploughing of moorland.
Grant applications received since Lord Porchester's study was commissioned will accordingly be considered individually on the basis that the Government would not wish in principle to assist the conversion of uniquely important areas such as Lord Porchester described and which the NPA wishes to conserve, though there may be circumstances in a specific case where the agricultural considerations should prevail.
Applications which were received be-fore the Porchester study was initiated, such as that from the Glenthorne Estate, which has been under consideration since 1976, are being dealt with under the old rules, and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has approved the modified proposals agreed by the estate with the National Park Authority as part of a wider management agreement.