§ Mr. Roy HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he proposes to take to combat the destruction of the physical character of the countryside.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe Government are firmly committed to the conservation of the countryside. There are a number of statutory designations which serve to protect it, including national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty, sites of special scientific interest and national nature reserves. A recent initiative is the designation of environmentally sensitive areas, and on 1 January 1988 I established the second such area in Wales in the Lleyn peninsula. In addition the Countryside Commission, which is my right hon. Friend's statutory adviser on countryside conservation matters, the national parks and the Welsh Office agriculture department can make grants available towards the management of important landscape features.