HC Deb 27 July 2000 vol 354 cc773-4W
Mr. Swayne

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if, under his proposals for a New Forest national park, the park authority will have to seek the consent of the Verderers Court before proceeding with any recreational development in the open forest; [132012]

(2) if the Verderers will retain their existing power to prevent recreational development in the open forest under his proposals to create a national park in the New Forest. [132013]

Mr. Mullin

The creation of a National Park in the New Forest would neither repeal nor amend the New Forest Acts, which lay down the powers of the Verderers. A National Park Authority would, therefore, need to obtain any appropriate consent under those Acts before carrying out recreational development. As there would be no change to the New Forest Acts, the Verderers would retain the powers they currently have to prevent development.