I am most grateful to my hon. Friend, who is making a powerful speech in defence of his constituents. If I understood him correctly, he is saying that if the bogs are allowed to develop, there will be a risk of landslip. We saw in Boscastle the terrible tragedy that...

I am most grateful to my hon. Friend, who is making a powerful speech in defence of his constituents. If I understood him correctly, he is saying that if the bogs are allowed to develop, there will be a risk of landslip. We saw in Boscastle the terrible tragedy that...

My hon. Friend has spoken eloquently on that situation many times in the House. We have discussed at great length how moors and uplands should be run. I thank him for his support. He is absolutely right. I know that he is concerned that the Environment Agency and bodies such...

My hon. Friend has spoken eloquently on that situation many times in the House. We have discussed at great length how moors and uplands should be run. I thank him for his support. He is absolutely right. I know that he is concerned that the Environment Agency and bodies such...

It is good to serve under your chairmanship, Mr. Martlew. I am grateful for the opportunity to debate this subject and in particular to talk about my local national park. This short debate could not be more topical. About an hour ago, the elders of Exmoor national park began a...

It is good to serve under your chairmanship, Mr. Martlew. I am grateful for the opportunity to debate this subject and in particular to talk about my local national park. This short debate could not be more topical. About an hour ago, the elders of Exmoor national park began a...

I thank the Minister. I am really pleased that he has just announced that the increase for grant funding to Exmoor will go up to the level that he mentioned. That good news will be gratefully received on Exmoor and I thank the Government and the Minister for it.

I thank the Minister. I am really pleased that he has just announced that the increase for grant funding to Exmoor will go up to the level that he mentioned. That good news will be gratefully received on Exmoor and I thank the Government and the Minister for it.

I am pleased to respond to this debate. I congratulate the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. Liddell-Grainger) on securing this important debate. It could not be more timely, as he said. He began by mentioning the novels of Thomas Hardy. At some point, we will probably exchange notes. My favourite...

I am pleased to respond to this debate. I congratulate the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. Liddell-Grainger) on securing this important debate. It could not be more timely, as he said. He began by mentioning the novels of Thomas Hardy. At some point, we will probably exchange notes. My favourite...

I understand the point that the hon. Gentleman makes on behalf of his constituents. However, it would not be for the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to intervene directly in this matter. Nevertheless, the hon. Gentleman makes the valid point that we must ensure that there...

I understand the point that the hon. Gentleman makes on behalf of his constituents. However, it would not be for the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to intervene directly in this matter. Nevertheless, the hon. Gentleman makes the valid point that we must ensure that there...

I do not disagree with any of that. The problem is quite simple, that the pressure on local schools, shops, pubs and services in Exmoor is now acute because the population is getting older and older, local people cannot afford to buy and there is no chance of local houses...

I do not disagree with any of that. The problem is quite simple, that the pressure on local schools, shops, pubs and services in Exmoor is now acute because the population is getting older and older, local people cannot afford to buy and there is no chance of local houses...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that helpful intervention. It is certainly important that that increase in funding is well used. As I said, I will turn to the issue of Blackpitts. As the hon. Gentleman has already mentioned, the national park authority acted within its powers in acquiring the...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that helpful intervention. It is certainly important that that increase in funding is well used. As I said, I will turn to the issue of Blackpitts. As the hon. Gentleman has already mentioned, the national park authority acted within its powers in acquiring the...

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on national parks in England.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on national parks in England.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What will be the process and timetable for deciding any changes to existing national park boundaries following the forthcoming designation of the South Downs National Park.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What will be the process and timetable for deciding any changes to existing national park boundaries following the forthcoming designation of the South Downs National Park.

Letter dated 24/11/2008 from Baroness Andrews to Lord Greaves regarding various issues arising from the Third Reading debate on the Planning Bill. 33 p.

Letter dated 24/11/2008 from Baroness Andrews to Lord Greaves regarding various issues arising from the Third Reading debate on the Planning Bill. 33 p.

moved Amendment No. 2: 2: Clause 12, page 7, line 17, leave out from ““statement”” to ““or”” in line 18 and insert ““is a pre-commencement statement”” The noble Baroness said: My Lords, I shall speak also to Amendments Nos. 3 to 6. This is a group of minor and technical...

moved Amendment No. 2: 2: Clause 12, page 7, line 17, leave out from ““statement”” to ““or”” in line 18 and insert ““is a pre-commencement statement”” The noble Baroness said: My Lords, I shall speak also to Amendments Nos. 3 to 6. This is a group of minor and technical...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Hamwee, for interpreting and speaking to my amendment, which I shall say nothing more about. I will answer quite a lot of the questions asked by my noble friend Lord Howarth by referring to the letter which my noble friend Lord Hunt...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Hamwee, for interpreting and speaking to my amendment, which I shall say nothing more about. I will answer quite a lot of the questions asked by my noble friend Lord Howarth by referring to the letter which my noble friend Lord Hunt...

My Lords, the noble and learned Lord is misreading the amendment. The words, "““During the period of 60 days””," in subsection (3) cover both paragraphs (a) and (b). Subsection (b) states that, "““the Secretary of State must respond””." The circumstances postulated by the noble and learned Lord, frankly, lack credibility....

My Lords, the noble and learned Lord is misreading the amendment. The words, "““During the period of 60 days””," in subsection (3) cover both paragraphs (a) and (b). Subsection (b) states that, "““the Secretary of State must respond””." The circumstances postulated by the noble and learned Lord, frankly, lack credibility....

My Lords, I did not support the Government in the Lobbies on the vote last week. Although I was in the building, I absented myself from the vote. That was because I am a member of the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee, which had reached a clear view on...

My Lords, I did not support the Government in the Lobbies on the vote last week. Although I was in the building, I absented myself from the vote. That was because I am a member of the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee, which had reached a clear view on...

My Lords, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 209 [Charities]:

My Lords, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 209 [Charities]:

My Lords, I add my thanks to the Minister for the trouble she has taken, the letters she has written and the way she has tried to reach a solution on this rather tricky issue. In her letter she refers to the question of ““purpose”” or ““purposes”” which we discussed...

My Lords, I add my thanks to the Minister for the trouble she has taken, the letters she has written and the way she has tried to reach a solution on this rather tricky issue. In her letter she refers to the question of ““purpose”” or ““purposes”” which we discussed...

My Lords, this is the only amendment on CIL, and I support my noble friend in what he said. It gives me the only opportunity to ask the Minister a couple of questions about CIL. I am certainly not happy with the way that the Bill is at the moment,...

My Lords, this is the only amendment on CIL, and I support my noble friend in what he said. It gives me the only opportunity to ask the Minister a couple of questions about CIL. I am certainly not happy with the way that the Bill is at the moment,...

moved Amendment No. 21: 21: Clause 209, page 121, line 39, leave out ““(1) or”” The noble Lord said: My Lords, I took the amendment proposed by the noble Lord, Lord Shutt, which we have just voted on, as being the front-line position and perhaps even as being in no...

moved Amendment No. 21: 21: Clause 209, page 121, line 39, leave out ““(1) or”” The noble Lord said: My Lords, I took the amendment proposed by the noble Lord, Lord Shutt, which we have just voted on, as being the front-line position and perhaps even as being in no...

moved Amendment No. 7: 7: Clause 25, page 17, line 19, at end insert ““or a mainline railway between England and Scotland linking major population centres”” The noble Duke said: My Lords, I will speak also to Amendment No. 29, which is consequential on Amendment No. 7. I thank the...

moved Amendment No. 7: 7: Clause 25, page 17, line 19, at end insert ““or a mainline railway between England and Scotland linking major population centres”” The noble Duke said: My Lords, I will speak also to Amendment No. 29, which is consequential on Amendment No. 7. I thank the...