HL Deb 22 February 1990 vol 516 cc385-6

3.14 p.m.

Baroness Nicol asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they can yet announce a date for designation of the proposed marine nature reserve at Skomer and whether any progress has been made on the other five sites identified in 1981.

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, I cannot announce a date for the designation of the proposed marine nature reserve at Skomer but I understand that it is intended to publish the notice of the draft order within the next month. The Nature Conservancy Council published its consultation paper on the proposed marine nature reserve at Menai Straits in September 1988 and has been seeking through consultation to resolve the objections received, which have been mainly from yachting interests. It is now redrafting the consultation paper and hopes to submit its formal application for designation to the Secretary of State for Wales later this year.

Baroness Nicol

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his Answer. However, it is depressing that these sites were identified in 1981 but we are still apparently not in sight of a conclusion. The Minister has only mentioned Skomer and Menai but there are three other sites which have also been identified about which he said nothing. Will it take 10 more years in each case or 10 years consecutively to reach a conclusion on those sites? How can we take the Government's commitment to marine conservation seriously if they appear to put so little effort into the creation of marine nature reserves?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, I hope I can put the mind of the noble Baroness somewhat at rest on this matter. At St. Abbs Head and on the Isle of Lundy the voluntary arrangements that are in place are considered by the Nature Conservancy Council to be working very well. The activities that have been taking place with regard to Skomer have held up two other sites, but I can assure the noble Baroness that we believe passionately that in the case of marine reserves, which are the most difficult of all reserves, we have to achieve consensus with all those who use and might possibly abuse the reserves.

Baroness Nicol

My Lords, I understand that Lundy has been designated a statutory reserve and is not a voluntary reserve.

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, I stand corrected by the noble Baroness.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, my noble friend has raised matters of considerable public importance. Is it not the case that the applications to designate Skomer and the Marloes Peninsula were made in 1984? Those and other applications seem to have been shelved without any urgency of action for several years in respect of that area and other areas. Will the Minister explain to the House the cause of the delay of several years in coming to a conclusion on Skomer and Marloes?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, I understand that the noble Lord should feel that it is taking a considerable period of time to resolve this matter. However, we feel it is absolutely imperative that we achieve the right arrangements because it is impossible to ring-fence a marine site. That is why it is so difficult to reach a satisfactory conclusion where everyone is in agreement so that marine nature reserves work successfully.

Lord Williams of Elvel

My Lords, I agree with the Minister that we must obtain the maximum amount of co-operation in these cases. However, following on from the question of my noble friend, will the Minister confirm that the sub-aqua divers association is the main obstacle to declaring a marine reserve in Cardigan Bay? That position has lasted for some time and the association has declared itself opposed to marine reserves in principle and therefore will never agree to any such reserves.

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, I am a great believer in the powers of persuasion.