§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they are taking to ensure co-operation between Regional Development Agencies and National Park Authorities to guarantee the protection and enhancement of the purposes of national parks. [HL3257]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Lord Whitty)The statutory purposes of Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) apply as much in relation to the rural parts of their areas as to the non-rural parts. The statutory guidance on the preparation of RDAs' strategies states that RDAs should take account of the particular features of the region's rural areas. Supplementary policy and programme guidance has also been issued to RDAs.42WA This provides material on rural policy, including information about the main rural partners with which RDAs will wish to co-operate, including National Park Authorities.
Section 62 of the Environment Act 1995 also places a general duty on relevant authorities, including the RDAs as public bodies, to have regard to the statutory purposes for which the National Parks are designated. This ensures that the RDAs take account of these purposes when coming to decisions or carrying out their activities relating to or within the National Parks