HC Deb 28 October 1983 vol 47 cc211-2W
Mr. Iain Mills

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action has been taken on the four orders designating areas of outstanding natural beauty which have been made by the Countryside Commission but not confirmed.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

I have today approved three of these orders covering the High Weald, Cranborne Chase and the west Wiltshire downs, and the Camel estuary in Cornwall.

Civil Service non-industrial union representatives
Estimates of numbers and cost of paid time off for industrial relations duties and trade union activities (as at 1 June 1983)
Table 1. Percentage of time off
Department Under 5 6–10 11–20 21–30 31–40 41–50 51–60 61–70 71–80 81–90 91–99 Full time
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 90 28 14 6 3 2 1 1 4
Customs and Excise 301 261 134 45 21 19 11 12 18 7 33
Ministry of Defence* 1,353 274 140 41 23 8 9 3 5 1 8 8
Department of Employment Group 635 1,009 209 68 37 10 15 3 3 9
Department of Environment/ Transport 205 68 39 12 2 7 2 1 1 27
Foreign and Commonwealth Office 4 26 26 5 4 8 1 1 8
Department of Health and Social Security 541 405 421 172 111 54 45 20 27 19 8 118
Home Office 724 79 104 77 2 9 8 1 3 2 10
Department of Trade and Industry 267 173 62 30 8 10 4 3 2 1 17
Inland Revenue 1,743 313 153 55 29 30 11 5 6 1 1 9
Lord Chancellor's Department 34 13 17 9 5 4 3 2 5
Department for National Savings 10 9 1 1 12
Property Services Agency 376 61 20 5 2 3 2 10
Scottish Office 86 38 6 9
Other Government Departments 459 127 83 26 9 34 3 2 7 1 1 24
Total 6,818 2,885 1,437 551 256 199 115 54 72 33 18 303
* including Royal Ordnance factories.
excluding Property Services Agency.
including Passport Office and Overseas Development Administration.

The fourth order designating a very large area of the north Pennines has attracted widespread interest, and public opinion about it is strongly divided. In view of its size and the lapse of time since the order was initially made, I have invited the Countryside Commission to have a fresh look at the area proposed for designation and to advise on any boundary changes it thinks might be appropriate. I shall make a further announcement about this order in due course.