Nature Conservation (Hansard, 11 July 1989)

§ Mr. Peter Walker

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has today announced our intention to reorganise the agencies responsible for nature conservation and countryside matters in Great Britain.

Legislation will be brought before the House at the earliest opportunity to give effect to the proposed changes. Responsibilities for nature conservation and countryside matters in Wales are currently undertaken by the Nature Conservancy Council and the Countryside Commission. These agencies are funded by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. My right hon. Friend and I are agreed that the present functions of those two agencies in Wales should in the future be exercised by a single separate Welsh body appointed by and directly responsible to the Secretary of State for Wales. This new body will incorporate the functional responsibilities of the present offices in Wales of the Nature Conservancy Council and the Countryside Commission with full executive authority for its work in Wales, compared with the current advisory role of the two committees for Wales. This will give continuity to much of the work now carried out by the existing organisations and will provide valuable expertise for the new body. It also means that decisions affecting Wales will in future be taken in Wales. A single body attuned to the needs of the Principality will be of undoubted benefit to Wales.

The proposals represent a significant change in arrangements and should result in improvements in the efficiency, accountability, and above all the sensitivity of 436W administration for conserving and managing the unique natural assets of Wales. The arrangements should also ensure that full regard is given to the protection of the environment without damage to our natural resources.