§ Dr. CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the composition of(a) each regional rivers advisory committee, (b) each regional flood defence committee and (c) each regional fisheries advisory committee, showing for each member their age, sex and background leading to their being appointed to the committee; and which interests they represent.
Mr. PattenThe regional rivers advisory committees and the regional fisheries advisory committees are committees of the National Rivers Authority, and appointment to them are not made by Ministers but by the National Rivers Authority. I shall write to the hon. Member with information about the appointments that have been made so far.
The regional flood defence committees in England are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, who appoints the chairman and some members of the committees; the majority of appointments are made by the local authorities in the regions, and two members of each committee are appointed by the National Rivers Authority.