HL Deb 29 November 1982 vol 436 cc1063-4

2.54 p.m.

Lord John-Mackie

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have seen the remarks of the chairman of the Association of Nature Conservationists that the Western Isles Integrated Development Programme was "an ill-conceived poisonous little plan" and "is a recipe for Britain's first ever conservation disaster of world wide significance," and if so, what they intend to do to counter this damaging propaganda.

Lord Lyell

My Lords, the remarks to which the noble Lord refers appear in an article by the general secretary of the British Association of Nature Conservationists, in the Autumn 1982 edition of ECOS, that association's journal. The article contains a number of ill-founded allegations reflecting an inability, or an unwillingness, to understand what work is envisaged under the Western Isles IDP. I am sure that those who care about the Western Isles and its environment, and who have taken the trouble to study the programme, will appreciate the damage that comments of this nature can cause, not least in provoking a backlash against the general aims of nature conservation. Responsible nature conservationists will, I am sure, wish to dissociate themselves from this article.

Lord John-Mackie

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for his reply, but it does not really answer the Question. Has the department concerned done anything about the propaganda, or is it, as the noble Lord said, just leaving it to the common sense of people who would ignore the conservation society's remarks? Does the noble Lord know whether the department concerned has done anything about two schemes in the machair areas, which have been held up by the Nature Conservancy? Can he make any reply to the fact that the schemes are being held up? How long will it be before the department concerned is likely to give a reply?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, as I understand it, the department's view is that in regard to the article, with its ill-founded comments, we had best let the matter rest. With regard to the two detailed schemes about which the noble Lord asked me, I am afraid that, without notice, I am unable to give an answer, but I shall make inquiries about them, and, if I may, write to him.

Baroness Elliot of Harwood

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord why a programme which is being backed by Her Majesty's Government, which is receiving excellent grants from the EEC, and which is approved by everybody, should suddenly be attacked in this way, doing much harm to the work and delaying things very badly indeed? I should like the noble Lord to say what he is really going to do about it, because it is just no good saying, "We aren't going to do anything"; and it is most important that the kind of rubbish that it being written should be stopped.

Lord Lyell

My Lords, I should like to thank my noble friend for her robust support for this very important integrated development programme for the Western Isles which, as she rightly pointed out, has received the wholehearted support of the Scottish Office. I shall take advice on what steps—if any further steps are needed—the department could take to counter the propaganda. However, so far as I am aware, there has been no delay at all to the scheme as a result of the article referred to in the Question of the noble Lord.

Lord John-Mackie

My Lords, I do not think it probable that there is a delay, but if one is in, say, South Uist, or any of the islands that would benefit from the scheme, one would think twice before going into it when this kind of propaganda is being issued. In a debate on the matter a few weeks ago my noble friend Lord Melchett mentioned the frustration that is being felt, and it is this frustration that delays things. I think that the noble Lord knows something about agriculture and, if I may, I should like to put to him a point regarding the effects of delay. One has to plan far ahead. If one puts forward a scheme to reseed a machair area and then perhaps keeps one's lambs to feed in the spring, only to find that the scheme is delayed, one then has a lot of lambs and no pasture.

Lord Lyell

My Lords, as I am sure the noble Lord is aware, none of the improvements that are provided for in the plan is new. He will be aware, and I am sure your Lordships will be aware, that Government assistance for plans of this kind has been available for many years, though we would admit on not quite such attractive terms.