HASKINS RURAL DELIVERY REVIEW

Early day motion 37, tabled 26 November 2003 by Caroline Spelman (Conservative). Signed by 61 members.

That this House welcomes Lord Haskins' Rural Review; expresses concern that DEFRA's commitment to a range of targets for rural delivery is described by Lord Haskins as, 'at one extreme over-ambitious and unrealistic, and at another, too focused on processes rather than results'; acknowledges the good work that English Nature does, in particular in the area of biodiversity; expresses further concern that English Nature will lose its independent and effective voice if subsumed into one large rural-agency; and calls upon the Government to put safeguards in place so English Nature and other bodies can retain their independent nature from the Government.

Signatures by party: Conservative 58, Independent Conservative 1, Labour 1, UUP 1.