Member

The Government have a role here too. The trust is not wholly disconnected from the Government. As I have said, it is the recipient of public funds and subject to statutory duties. I therefore urge Ministers, and Defra in particular, to reflect on the terms of the trust’s obligations and to examine whether some form of minimum amenity provision should be incorporated into future grant arrangements. I invite them to consider whether expanded statutory duties might now be appropriate—not to inappropriately burden the trust but to ensure that it delivers the basic services the public expect.