The Daily Mail today reported that the Natural England head Sir Martin Doughty (namesake of the reporter) argued that green belt land should be converted into 'something that adds value'. (wot, and farming doesn't?). He argued that the greenbelt simply caused development to leapfrog it. Another, recently formed 'advisory body' supported such development in part to accommodate projected immigration.

Martin Oliver of the CPRE countered that Natural England should be challenging the view that three million new homes must be built.

He added: "They (Natural England) are accepting projections which are not justified in their own terms and which are certain to undermine the credibility of Natural England's own position as an independent body."

 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=490291&in_page_id=1770

The calls by so-called advisory bodies are seen as reflecting a change of policy by Gordon Brown, who has developed an uncanny knack of having 'independent' advisors recommend exactly what he wanted to do already.

The interim report of the King Review of low carbon cars succeeded in exactly toeing the line of government policy on biofuels, although it is designated "independent" on the Treasury website.