NATIONAL PARKS

That this House notes that National Parks are run by appointed individuals; further notes that National Parks have many of the powers of local councils, but without any formal accountability; recognises that the National Parks' authorities would gain more trust and respect if a proportion of their members were directly elected; welcomes the consultation on direct elections for National Parks that has been issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; and calls for National Parks to have a directly elected element to ensure that they are accountable to the people who live there.