§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement regarding the future funding and organisation of the national parks.
§ Mr. MacleanOur policy statement on the national parks, published in January 1992, promised legislation to create independent authorities for the eight national parks in England and Wales currently run as county council committees. I fully recognise the importance of introducing national park legislation at the earliest opportunity and I have repeatedly said that we will do so. We cannot commit ourselves to a specific level of resources for the parks, but I believe that our record of funding should give confidence that the new authorities will be able to discharge their various responsibilities.