§ Mrs. GormanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he considers the political stance of the environmental groups with which he has discussions before meeting them.
§ Mr. Chris PattenNo; nor do they seem to consider mine.
§ Mrs. GormanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the environmental groups with which he has had discussions since taking office.
§ Mr. Chris PattenI have met the Council for the Protection of Rural England, the Countryside Commission, the European Environment Bureau, the Institute for European Environmental Policy, Friends of 163W the Earth, the Nature Conservancy Council, the royal commission on environmental pollution and the National Trust.
§ Mrs. GormanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on meeting environmental groups whose philosophy is against the free market.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe same as it would be with any other group which held such views: I argue with them.