Sir Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made a recent assessment of the extent to which the functions of (a) national parks, (b) Natural England, (c) the Environment Agency and (d) Forestry England are (i) clearly delineated, (ii) complementary and (iii) overlapping; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of reducing the number of these bodies.  [85058]

[Due for Answer on 30 October. Answered on 6 November.]

ANSWER

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Nature (Mary Creagh): The Government is conducting a full review of all Arm’s Length Bodies. This review is ongoing, and the outcomes will be published in due course. However, as National Parks are not classified as Arm’s Length Bodies, they are not included in the review.