Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what meetings he has had since July with representatives of national, international and regional environmental pressure groups and non-governmental organisations; when they were held; what issues were raised; and if he will make a statement on his policy towards communications and co-operation with such organisations in policy development.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleySince July, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has met representatives of Friends of the Earth for a general discussion of environmental issues, and representatives of the Council for the Protection of Rural England to discuss countryside matters.
In addition, my hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside and I have had meetings on a range of environmental matters with a number of other bodies, including CLEAR, the British Conservation Trust, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Tidy Britain Group and UK 2000.
We welcome a dialogue with constructive and well-meaning environmental groups in order to strengthen mutual understanding of the issues that we face and the policy options that are available.