§ Mrs. GormanTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he considers the political stance of the environmental groups with whom he has discussions before meeting them;
(2) if he will list all the environmental groups with whom he has had discussions since taking office;
(3) what is the normal practice on meeting environmental groups whose philosophy is against the free market;
(4) when he last received representations advocating a free market solution to environmental problems.
§ Mr. MacleanI have met representatives from the Nature Conservancy Council, the Green Alliance, Friends of the Earth, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Council for the Protection of Rural England.
I have received a wide range of representations on environmental issues. None has specifically advocated a free market solution, although I am ready to listen to opinions from all quarters.
I have the same approach in considering whether to meet environmental groups as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. In any meeting with environmental groups I look for a constructive exchange of views which can contribute to our understanding of the environmental issues that we face.