§ Baroness Anelay of St Johnsasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their response to the recommendations of the report Working for the Countryside published jointly by the English Tourism Council and the Countryside Agency in August 2000. [HL902]
§ The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Blackstone)The Working for the Countryside strategy for rural tourism in England, 2001–05, was published in May 2001 following the commitment made in the Rural White Paper,Our 5WA Countryside: the future (Cm 4909). The Government considered that the strategy was necessary to improve the experience of tourists and increase income and employment, while at the same time enhancing the quality of the environment and spreading the benefits of tourism throughout rural communities. As identified in the strategy, a range of organisations and enterprises with tourism, conservation and rural development responsibilities will have a role in implementation at a national, regional and local level. The English Tourism Council and the Countryside Agency will have a part to play in taking this forward and will strengthen their working relationship in implementing the recommendations.