Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill

That slightly changes my perspective. The idea of having directly elected members to the park authority is very interesting. It considerably alters the concept of local democracy, particularly in view of the fact that there would be an immense potential for conflict between the elected members of the park authority and elected members of the parishes and county councils within it and around it. However, that is nothing new because there is inevitably in life already conflict between members of county councils, members of district councils, and members of parish councils. From time to time there are wonderful occasions when they all reach agreement; that is the nature of democracy. If we are talking about directly elected members of park authorities, that would be a considerable change in the way that this works, and it would give the parks authorities considerably more direct interest in their communities. It would represent a considerable strengthening of the democratic process for national parks. If that is what we are talking about, it is almost a revolution. It is a real and major change. I have always been a big believer in democracy. I find that proposal quite attractive and of considerable interest. I wait with interest to hear the Minister’s reaction.