PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
DIRECT ELECTIONS TO NATIONAL PARKS (28 June 2005)

That this House celebrates the innovative work of the United Kingdom's national parks in achieving their purposes of conserving the natural and cultural identities of their areas and promoting understanding and enjoyment; recognises the challenges national parks in the UK face within the international national park movement in sustaining landscapes of the very highest quality in a heavily populated nation, whilst also taking into consideration the social and economic needs of those living and working within the national parks; welcomes the establishment of the two new Scottish national parks and the successful introduction of direct elections to their committee; and supports the extension of direct elections to national park authorities in England and Wales, which will promote local accountability by allowing residents to put themselves forward for election and by enabling residents to engage in an important democratic process which will elect those who will take decisions directly affecting residents' quality of life.

Sponsored by:
Roger Williams (Liberal Democrat)