§ Lord Thomas of Gwydirasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have received the recommendations of the Countryside Commission on the National Parks Review Report.
§ Baroness BlatchYes. My right honourable friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and 49WA Wales wish to congratulate the Countryside Commission upon setting up this most timely review to mark the 40th anniversary of the legislation to establish the National Parks of England and Wales and to thank Professor Ron Edwards and his team for their comprehensive and balanced report. Our National Parks have played and continue to play a vital part in conserving and enhancing some of our most treasured landscapes and enabling the public to enjoy access to them.
The Government welcome the general thrust of the Edwards report and the recommendations based on it put to us by the Countryside Commission and the Countryside Council for Wales. We shall now address in detail their particular recommendations and hope to publish a considered response later in the year.