§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will bring forward plans to give the New Forest the statutory protection of national park status.
§ Mr. MacleanWe intend to introduce legislation as soon as a convenient opportunity can be found.
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§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will bring forward plans to increase the resources, responsibilities and local accountability of national park authorities.
§ Mr. MacleanWe cannot commit ourselves to any specific future level of resources for the national parks, but our record on funding them is a good one. National parks supplementary grant has risen by well over 50 per cent. in real terms over the last five years and 24 per cent. more money was made available to the parks in 1992–93 than in 1991–92. In January, we announced our intention to introduce legislation to create all national park authorities as independent bodies, though still within the local government framework, and to take steps to ensure truly local representation on them. The move to independence will bring to the national park authorities freedom to manage their own affairs and a more undivided commitment to park objectives. We will introduce legislation as soon as a convenient opportunity can be found.