HC Deb 16 July 1992 vol 211 cc1042-3W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to reduce the number of staff of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maclean

None. We await proposals from English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Countryside Council for Wales, in consultation with the JNCC, for a formal staff complement for the committee.

Mr. Steinberg

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of funding and manpower of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.

Mr. Maclean

No. The future level of funding for the committee will be determined in the normal way as part of the current public expenditure round. We await proposals from the county councils, in consultation with the J NCC, for a formal staff complement for the committee.