§ Mr. IllsleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has for the contracting out of the management and maintenance of(a) national nature reserves, (b) historic buildings and (c) country parks in Northern Ireland; and whom he has consulted on these proposals. [17388]
§ Mr. MossResponsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Environment and Heritage Service under its chief executive, Mr. Robert C. Martin. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Robert C. Martin to Mr. Eric Illsley, dated 24 February 1997:
As Chief Executive of the Environment and Heritage Service, I am responsible for operational aspects of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland's work heritage properties.I am therefore responding to the Parliamentary Question which you put down in the House of Commons:
- "to ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what proposals he has for the contracting out of the management and maintenance of:—
- (a) National Nature Reserves,
- (b) Historic Buildings, and
- (c) Country Parks in Northern Ireland, and with whom he has consulted on these proposals."
The Environment and Heritage Service of the Department of Environment for Northern Ireland has begun a 3-year programme to assess the opportunities to disengage from direct management of its nature reserves, historic properties and country parks. Each property will be assessed individually and its management will be contracted out if a competent body is able to undertake the necessary work efficiently, effectively and economically. All 26 district councils and relevant voluntary conservation bodies have been approached.