§ Sir Patrick McNair-WilsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if she will give details of fees payable to any outside consultants together with details of those projects on which consultants have been employed by the New Forest Committee and details of the duration of any projects;
(2) if she will publish details of the current level of funding received by the New Forest Committee, indicating 183W the source of such funding together with details of the projects on which this money has been expended since the committee's inception.
§ Mr. JackConsultants were employed on the following projects:
- 1. Definition of boundary of New Forest heritage area, January to June 1991, £20,000—land use consultants.
- 2. Advice on proposed West Wellow bypass, September to October 1991 and June to July 1993, £4,500—land use consultants.
- 3. New Forest heritage area boundary: representation at New Forest local plans inquiry, January to July 1992, £2,625—land use consultants.
- 4. Research into recreational use of horses in the New Forest heritage area, January to September 1994, £17,000—Royal agricultural college—75 per cent. of cost to be met by the Department of the Environment.
The New Forest Committee's 1993–94 budget of £110,800 is funded by the following bodies:
£ Department of the Environment 20,000 Forestry Commission 18,160 Countryside Commission 18,160 English Nature 18,160 Hampshire County Council 18,160 New Forest District Council 18,160 In 1993–94, in addition to the projects carried out by consultants which are listed above, the committee granted £2,500 to establish the New Forest common housing trust, £550 towards management work on common land adjacent to the forest, £1,350 towards the publication of an outdoor education providers leaflet and £150 towards the publication of a student factfile.
§ Sir Patrick McNair-WilsonTo ask the Minister. of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will give details of the current and projected administrative budget of the New Forest Committee, inclusive of staffing levels.
§ Mr. JackThe New Forest Committee's administrative budget is currently £93,400 and will be £95,100 in 1994–95. The budgets include provision for a New Forest officer, an assistant New Forest officer and a New Forest clerk.
§ Sir Patrick McNair-WilsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will publish a list of the statutory bodies currently responsible for environmental protection, forestry, animal welfare, administration and planning within the New Forest.
§ Mr. JackThe primary statutory bodies are the Forestry Commission, English Nature, New Forest verderers, MAFF, Hampshire county council and New Forest district council.
§ Sir Patrick McNair-WilsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will give details of the proposed projects and their estimated costs which are under consideration by the New Forest Committee.
§ Mr. JackThe information is given:
- 1. A contribution of about £14,000 over three years to the Countryside Commission's all parks survey.
- 2. £3,500 in 1993–94 for the preparation of a public transport timetable.
- 3. A contingency sum of £4,800 in 1994–95 for consultancy work associated with major road schemes and other major infrastructure schemes which may affect the forest.
184 - 4. £4,600 in 1994–95 for the publication of a consultation paper, arising from the proposed management strategy.