Nature Conservancy Council

EDM number 209 in 1989-90, proposed by Ron Davies on 14/12/1989.

That this House notes with regret the resignation of Dr Peter Bridgewater as Chief Scientist of the Nature Conservancy Council, after only five months in post; recognises that this is the latest symptom of the low morale amongst Nature Conservancy Council staff resulting from the Government's intention to dismember the organisation; records the results of the poll of Nature Conservancy Council staff on their attitudes to the Government's plans, which indicated 82 per cent. opposition, with only 9 per cent. in favour; notes that the Secretary of State for the Environment, in announcing the dismemberment, stated that the 'density of population and consequent pressure upon the land' dictates that there should remain separate nature conservation and countryside bodies in England; understands the implication that merged bodies in Scotland and Wales will be less able to resist development pressures; recognises that this is the Government's intention in imposing the reorganisation upon the deeply reluctant staff; asserts that this will be detrimental to conservation in the United Kingdom as a whole; and therefore calls on the Government to withdraw its proposals for the break-up of its statutory advisory body.

This motion has been signed by a total of 36 MPs.