Mark Harper MP - for the Forest of Dean

Working for Gloucestershire West of the Severn

MP to raise Forest worries about Bill

06 February 2006

Mark Harper will be raising the concerns of some of his constituents about the possible impact of the Bill on Forest traditions

The Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill, which gives a wide range to powers to ministers to amend laws is to debated in Parliament this week.

Commenting, Mark Harper said:

“Many constituents have been in touch with me in the last few days to express their concerns that this Bill could be used by a Government Minister, without proper Parliamentary scrutiny, to remove many Forest traditions which depend on the common law.

I have already raised these concerns with my Front Bench colleagues and I plan to raise some of them in the House of Commons on Thursday. I will also be tabling Parliamentary Questions to the Minister to press him on the possible effect of this Bill on the Forest of Dean.

If amendments to the Bill are necessary to protect my constituents then I will work with my colleagues to ensure they are tabled at the Committee Stage of the Parliamentary process.”