§ Lord Williams of Elvelasked Her Majesty's Government:
When they will commission a management guide to identify and publicise best practice in managing common land, as mentioned on page 112 of the White Paper Rural England (Cm 3016); what will be the remit of this commission; and when they expect the management guide to be available for debate.
The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Earl Ferrers)After consulting the major interests, we expect to let the contract for a research project to produce a best practice guide for the management of common land about mid-year. The objective of the guide will be to assist managers of common land in practising environmentally friendly farming, conservation of the landscape and habitats and appropriate recreational use. The contract should take about 12 months to complete, so the guide should be available in autumn 1997.