Marine Nature Reserves (Hansard, 7 December 1992)

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (Lord Strathclyde)
My Lords, no.

§ Baroness Nicol
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that rather interesting Answer. But since it has taken 11 years for two of the seven sites identified in 1981 to be designated, does he agree that it is time that the Government took a realistic look at the situation and decided that the present formula is not working? Does he further agree that it would be sensible to approach the matter from a different point of view altogether? Does he recall that in January this year his predecessor, the noble Earl, Lord Howe, said that in the face of the new habitats directive it would be necessary to look at the whole question of marine conservation? Can he say whether any moves have been made toward that new directive, and will the Government be putting their full weight behind it?

§ Lord Strathclyde
My Lords, I hope that the noble Baroness is not too disappointed. The overall policy of looking after our marine environment is working, albeit with a slightly different approach from that envisaged under marine nature reserves. We have a three-pronged approach: first, the MNRs where they are appropriate; secondly, the consideration of measures necessary to enable us to meet our obligations under the habitats directive, and we are fully committed to those considerations; and thirdly, a wide-ranging review of the management of the coastal zone and the role of coastal management plans, including consideration of the responses to our proposals for marine consultation areas.

§ Baroness David
My Lords, will the Minister confirm that the Prime Minister said very recently that the UK was not going to be in quite such a hurry to implement directives that came from the EC? Are the environmental directives to be grouped with those which we are not going to be in quite such a hurry to implement?

§ Lord Strathclyde
My Lords, it is not so much a case of being in not too much of a hurry; it is a question of seeing how fast other countries within the European Community implement their directives. On this issue, all member states have until recently concentrated on terrestrial conservation but now there is a discernible movement to address the marine issues. We are well in the vanguard of that movement.

The Viscount of Falkland
My Lords, can the Minister confirm that earlier this year there was a general consultation exercise among all interested parties? If I am right in saying that, will there be publication of any conclusions or proposals arising out of that exercise?

§ Lord Strathclyde
My Lords, the noble Viscount is absolutely right. We have recently completed a consultation on marine conservation areas, which is a voluntary agreement. I do not believe that there are any plans to publish the responses to that consultation, but when we have new proposals to take forward they will be submitted to Parliament.

§ Baroness Hilton of Eggardon
My Lords, in January this year the then Minister said that progress was being made on the site of the Menai Straits and that discussions continued at Loch Sween. Can he now say when he expects those discussions and that progress to come to some sort of successful conclusion?

§ Lord Strathclyde
My Lords, it depends if you define success in designation of an MNR. I prefer to see success in the fact that the marine environment is being protected. So at both the Menai Straits and Loch Sween we are working hard to get agreement from the local community, local authorities and local interests to make sure that our objectives are met.

§ Lord Stoddart of Swindon
My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that I find his answer to my noble friend Lady David quite incredible? He appeared to say that we would adjust our policy to the pace of other European countries. Does he not agree that that is quite absurd? Is it not about time that this Government looked after the affairs of this country without reference to what is good or bad for others?

§ Lord Strathclyde
My Lords, we are only interested in the interests of the people of this country. But we also have international obligations and international treaties. When we sign those we take them seriously and that is why I gave the answer that I did.

§ Baroness Nicol
My Lords, is it not the case that while this leisurely pace proceeds, considerable damage is being done to some of the areas which have been identified and that unless action is taken soon it will be too late? Does the Minister recall that while the long negotiations over Skomer were going on there was considerable damage to the seabed? It will be many years before it recovers.

§ Lord Strathclyde
My Lords, I am aware of the situation at Skomer. We do not have any evidence that there is further damage being done in other areas. The Government agree with the noble Baroness that any further damage would be extremely regrettable. As I said in my second answer, we are working hard on a three-pronged approach to solve some of the problems.

§ Baroness David
My Lords, does the Minister believe that it shows much enthusiasm for the environment when we wait for other people to take the first steps? Is that not a very stupid way to go on?

§ Lord Strathclyde
My Lords, perhaps the noble Baroness misheard me. I said that we were in the vanguard of moving forward in the marine area; that means that we are at the front of the rest of the Community.