Moved by
Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
251A: After Clause 103, insert the following new Clause—
“Protection of National Parks
(1) In exercising their functions under—
(a) this Act,
(b) any subordinate legislation made under this Act, or
(c) any legislation amended by this Act,
a public authority must determine whether and how the carrying out of such functions would impact on National Parks.
(2) If a public authority determines that their actions would have a material impact on National Parks, that authority must—
(a) have regard to the purposes of National Parks specified in section 5(1) of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, and
(b) so far as practicable, act in a manner that is consistent with supporting those purposes.
(3) Section 11A of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 (duty of certain bodies and persons to have regard to the purposes for which National Parks are designated) is amended as follows—
(a) in subsection (2), after “land” insert “or the special qualities found”;
(b) after subsection (2) insert—
“(2A) All relevant authorities have a duty to co-operate in the production and implementation of any relevant National Park Management Plans.”;
(c) after subsection (3) insert—
“(3A) In subsection (2A) of this section “National Park Management Plans” means any relevant plan or plans published under section 66 of the Environment Act 1995 (National Park Management Plans).””
Member’s explanatory statement
This new Clause would ensure that where the decisions of public authorities impact on national parks, relevant authorities must have regard to the purposes laid out in section 5(1) of the 1949 Act. In addition, the Clause amends inserted section 11A of that Act to strengthen provisions around protecting the special characteristics of national parks.