§ 11. Mr. Kevin HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest information he has available about damage to sites of special scientific interest.
§ 17. Mr. OlnerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest information he has available about damage to sites of special scientific interest.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Tony Baldry)The latest available information on damage to SSSIs is contained in the final report of the former Nature Conservancy Council, a copy of which is in the Library. In the period 1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991, of the 3,536 SSSIs in England notified under the 1981 Act, 149 suffered some damage, and of that number 22 suffered damage from which the site could not recover in the short term.
§ Mr. HughesDespite what the Minister has just said, damage appears to be continuing at an alarming rate on sites of special scientific interest. That is borne out in a recent report by Wildlife Link. When will the Minister and the Government cut out the political rhetoric and gesturing and do something positive to protect SSSIs, such 1132 as making resources available so that local authorities can revoke planning permission and put a stop to peat extraction on SSSIs?
§ Mr. BaldryWe have a rich tapestry of protection for the countryside. The SSSI system is designed to identify land of scientific interest and provide a means of protecting such sites. Where we have seen any weakness in that protection, we have taken measures to strengthen it by legislation such as the Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1991 and also by the removal of permitted development rights in respect of temporary uses of land. Later this year we shall produce planning policy guidance notes on nature conservation. All those measures are intended to enhance the SSSI protection system.
§ Mr. OlnerIs the Minister aware of a site in my constituency called Ensors pool which is in great danger of being filled and used as a receptor for waste? Will he make a decision? Will he take note of what English Nature says in calling for the site to be classified as an SSSI? Will he ensure that the site is fully protected so that residents in my constituency can enjoy that part of the countryside which should be rightfully theirs? Will the Minister make a statement on that?
§ Mr. BaldryThe notification of a site as an SSSI signals to the planning authorities the wildlife importance of the site. That is a material factor to be taken into account when considering any planning application that might affect the site. I am sure that that is what will happen with the site to which the hon. Gentleman draws attention.
§ Mr. Ian BruceDoes my hon. Friend agree that we must not be too inflexible about the use of SSSIs? Having alerted the Secretary of State to the problems of an area within an SSSI, it is more sensible to ensure that if a new road scheme or development is to affect a site, the flora and fauna from it will be protected in a different area. In south Dorset most SSSIs are on the sites of abandoned quarries.
§ Mr. BaldryThe SSSI system is there to identify and protect land of scientific interest and was set up by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is a framework which works extremely well. Of course we keep the system continuously under review. Owners and occupiers of land must be consulted prior to the designation of any SSSI and that provides a good balance.
§ Sir Anthony GrantWill my hon. Friend consider carefully Brampton wood, which is in the constituency of our right hon. Friend the Prime Minister but is also enjoyed by my constituents? It contains sites of special scientific interest and is being sold by the Ministry of Defence. Will my hon. Friend have discussions with Ministers in that Department to ensure that the amenities of my constituents and those of the Prime Minister are duly protected?
§ Mr. BaldryMy hon. Friend can be assured that any SSSI, in whichever constituency it lies, will be given proper protection.