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Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill

moved Amendment No. 15A: 15A: Clause 3, page 3, line 18, at end insert— ““(c) the potential impact on the membership of any National Park Authority affected or on the Broads Authority.”” The noble Baroness said: This amendment and Amendments Nos. 22A and 42A relate to the special status held by national parks—an arrangement developed carefully over recent decades. Currently, the membership of national park authorities is made up of representatives from all the local authorities in the national park area, including parish councils, along with people appointed by the Secretary of State. This reflects the fact that national parks are a treasure of national significance, yet are places where people have to live and work. The English National Park Authorities Association has raised concerns about unitary proposals, specifically about how the current balance of the membership of national park authorities will be affected by the creation of unitary councils in their areas. The association is concerned that the creation of unitary councils will give the local authority a more dominant position within the national park authority. Without commenting on whether I think that that is a good or bad thing, I tabled the amendment to give the Minister a chance to, I hope, reassure national park authorities that the department is aware of this issue, particularly because the authorities’ normal dealings would be with Defra and it is not unknown for one department not to talk to another. I beg to move.