Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the financial arrangements employed by the Forestry Commission to grant private access to developers to build accommodation units in public forests have been approved by the National Audit Office.
There is no requirement for approval by the National Audit Office. The Forestry Commissioners have the power under the provisions in the Countryside Act 1968 to carry out recreational developments on the land placed at its disposal (the public forest estate), including the provision of accommodation for visitors. The 2006 Regulatory Reform (Forestry) Order enabled the Forestry Commissioners to go into partnership in order to undertake any of the activities it is authorised to carry out under the Countryside Act 1968.