Written question asked by Desmond Swayne (Conservative) on Tuesday, 13 May 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 16 May 2025 (named day). It was answered by Mary Creagh (Labour) on Friday, 16 May 2025 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

New Forest

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will (a) review and (b) update the Ministers mandate for the New Forest.

Answer: The Minister’s Mandate, first introduced in 1971, is mainly concerned with the conservation of the natural and cultural heritage of the Crown lands of the New Forest. The Protected Landscapes Duty requires relevant authorities such as Forestry England to seek to further the statutory purposes of Protected Landscapes including the New Forest. Forestry England is also subject to a range of regulations, assurance schemes, procedures and other guidance to steer its activity in the New Forest, including the New Forest Acts 1877, 1949, 1964, and 1970, Ancient Monuments & Archaeological Areas Act 1979, Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981, Environment Act 1995, and Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. Forestry England continues to manage the Crown lands of the New Forest to achieve a proper balance between people, nature and a working commercial forest. For this reason, there is no plan to review the Minister’s Mandate at this time.

Secondary information