§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the objectives set out in the White Paper "This Common Inheritance"—Cm. 1200—have so far been achieved.
§ Mr. BaldryI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 26 March this year detailing the major initiatives taken in the six months since the publication of the environment White Paper, "This Common Inheritance".
Since then we have continued to work hard at implementing commitments, taking the tally of initiatives so far to well over 100. Among the main achievements of the past three months have been the announcement of new planning controls over farm and forestry buildings and over the demolition of houses; the launch of a campaign of conservation awareness for farmers; announcements of future policy on environmentally sensitive areas; first offers of funding for a wide range of environmental projects by voluntary organisations under the new environmental grant fund; the first meetings of new discussion fora with business and the voluntary sector; the publication of an environmental directory for business; the report of the working group on tourism and the environment; consultation of local waste management plans for recycling; the launch of a new grant scheme for the renovation of cathedrals; and the application of substantial sections of the Environmental Protection Act on 1 April 1991.