§ Mr. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list338W those who attended the first meeting of the National Countryside Access Forum; and what arrangements are being made for industry and the trade unions to be represented in the forum. [93297]
§ Mr. MeacherThe National Countryside Access Forum has been established, at the Government's request, by the Countryside Agency. Those attending the first meeting on 21 July, as members of the Forum, were:
- Professor Ian Mercer, Secretary General of the Association of National Park Authorities;
- Mr. Hywel Davies, Chief Executive of the British Horse Society;
- Mr. Iain McMorrin, Chair of the Access and Conservation Committee of the British Mountaineering Council;
- Ms Kate Parminter, Director of the Council for the Protection of Rural England;
- Sir Edward Greenwell, Vice Chair of the Executive Committee of the Country Landowners' Association;
- Ms Pam Ashton, Chair of Campaigns and Policy Committee of the Cyclists Touring Club;
- Mr. Peter Davidson, of Hertfordshire County Council representing the Local Government Association;
- Air Commodore Simon Bostock, Moorland Association;
- Mr. Tim Bennett, Deputy President of the National Farmers' Union;
- Mr. Jo Burgon, Coast and Countryside Adviser for the National Trust;
- Mr. Jerry Pearlman, Honorary Solicitor for the Ramblers' Association;
- Mr. Gwyn Williams, Head of Species and Habitat Policy for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds;
- Ms Pamela Warhurst, Deputy Chair of the Countryside Agency, chaired the meeting.
Business and trade union interests will be represented on the Forum by independent members who will be appointed by the Countryside Agency in August.