§ Mr. Stephen Ross asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to give a considered response to the topic reports produced by the Countryside Review Committee between 1975 and 1980.
§ Mr. Macfarlane: The Government do not propose to publish a formal response to the various "topic" papers published by the committee—which has now been wound up—but I am pleased to acknowledge the valuable contribution these have made to the continuing debate on the future of the countryside. In its final paper, published in 1979, the committee argued the case for a fundamental review of the landscape and habitat designation system. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has already announced that the Government have no plans to undertake such a review.