asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their response to the recent report by the Council of National Parks on the economic significance of national parks in the Yorkshire and Humber region; what is their estimate of additional resources for the national parks identified by this report; and whether they will undertake their own full examination of the economic value of these and other similar sites. [HL857]

I welcome this report as it should reassure those who have suggested that the enormous pleasure our national parks have given to so many people has been at the expense of businesses within them. It shows that, on the contrary, national parks help businesses to prosper, locally and regionally.

We have just announced an increase of £1.12 million in the level of funding Defra provides to the national park authorities and we are currently discussing the forthcoming spending review with the park authorities and stakeholders.

Defra is working towards a more strategic approach to decision and policy making on the natural environment which involves formulating an ecosystems approach for England's terrestrial ecosystems. Research is under way to develop tools and methodologies for valuation of ecosystem services (the broad range of benefits that healthy ecosystems provide to humans), so that their true value can be taken into account in decision-making. This work will help in assessing the overall value of national parks and other protected areas.