HL Deb 02 February 1987 vol 484 cc124-5WA
Earl Ferrers

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will make a Statement about the report of the Common Land Forum and future legislation on common land.

Lord Skelmersdale

My right honourable friends and the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Secretary of State for Wales received the report of the Common Land Forum last September. It set out more than 100 recommendations including detailed proposals for further legislation on common land. The report is agreed by a wide range of various organisations covering a multitude of different interests. We warmly congratulate the chairman and members of the forum both for the comprehensiveness of their suggested reform and the breadth of the consensus they have achieved.

The Government accept the case for future legislation based broadly on the forum's report and intend to introduce a Commons Bill at a suitable opportunity when parliamentary time permits. A consultation paper has accordingly been published today so that all those interested in common land matters should be given an early opportunity to express their views on the forum's report. I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library. The responses, which should be submitted by 1st May, will then be taken into account in the preparation of the legislation.