HC Deb 19 June 1979 vol 968 cc473-4W
Mr. Parris

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide figures showing what variation there has been in the number of staff employed by the Peak District national park joint planning board since its inception.

Mr. Monro

The Peak Park joint planning board's approved establishment of staff has risen from 138 on 1 April 1974 to 139 at present. There are currently eight vacancies.

Mr. Parris

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, and how, the purposes of the Peak District national park joint planning board which were formally defined at its inception have been formally altered.

Mr. Monro

The board's formal purposes have not altered since its inception in December 1973.

Mr. Parris

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide figures indicating what variation there has been in the size of the annual budget of the Peak District national park joint planning board, after discounting inflation, since its inception.

Mr. Monro

The board's published annual reports show an increase of expenditure from £745,069 to 1,428,542 between the years 1974–75 and 1977–78, an increase in real terms of 23 per cent. over the four years.

Mr. Parris

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what directly elected representation is enjoyed on the Committee of the Peak District national park joint planning board by those who live in or make their living within the confines of the national park.

Mr. Monro

Two-thirds of the board's 33 members are appointed by the constituent county councils and all but two of these are locally-elected council or district councillors. Counties have been urged to ensure that the interests of people who live and work in the park are properly borne in mind in the appointments they make.