Forestry (England)

Debate between Stephen Williams and Caroline Spelman

Thursday 17th February 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Spelman]

It is more than my life is worth to get drawn into a competition over who has the best forest, as we all have candidates, but my hon. Friend is right, and he can be reassured that the Government, drawn from two parties with a large number of rural constituencies, have taken rural issues and the needs of the countryside very close to their heart indeed.

[Stephen Williams (Bristol West) (LD)]

I, too, commend the Secretary of State for the very gracious way in which she made her statement, which in itself executes a welcome policy re-think, showing that this Government, at least, listen to the views of constituents. In that regard, will she help me to reassure the 1,250 people who wrote to me in Bristol West about the issue—the biggest postbag I have ever had on any issue in my six years’ membership of the House—that the primary focus of the independent panel will be to enhance public access to woodlands, whether they are under Forestry Commission management or not?

[Mrs Spelman]

I am not going to get drawn into who had the largest postbag, either, but I absolutely can give the hon. Gentleman that assurance. Our absolute priority, as I said, is to protect and to enhance access to, and other public benefits of, our forests and woodlands, so I hope that he can reassure some of the 1,250 people with whom he corresponded that that is the case.