Marine Nature Reserves (Hansard, 8 March 1994)

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (The Earl of Arran)
My Lords, we have no immediate plans to designate any further marine nature reserves. The Countryside Council for Wales is currently consulting with local people about submitting the Menai Strait for designation as a reserve. We are undertaking similar consultations about Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland.

§ Baroness Nicol
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that rather disappointing Answer. He will be aware that it is over a year since the consultation papers on Menai were issued. Given that it has taken 13 years to designate two of the seven sites which were first identified in 1981 does not the Minister consider that it is time the Government took a different approach to marine protection? Would it not be more sensible to implement a wider protection measure rather than specialised protection, as is the case with many nature reserves? How otherwise will we be able to implement the habitats and species directive?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, I have some sympathy with the obvious frustration of the noble Baroness, Lady Nicol. In particular, I know her enthusiasm for the establishment of marine nature reserves. But she will agree that the government line has always been that it was only intended to designate a few selected sites and that a number of voluntary sites are in operation at the same time. The EC habitats directive will lead to the designation of a network of special areas of conservation, as the noble Baroness implied. Those may number several hundred altogether. Some of them will be marine areas of conservation. The list is to be agreed by the EC Commission in 1998.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, why has it taken such an inordinately long time to come to a decision about the Menai Strait? The people of Anglesey are decisive people and he should be able to get a quick reply from them.

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, I have no doubt about the decisiveness of the people living near the Menai Strait. However, the noble Lord, Lord Cledwyn, will probably agree that it is better to have a successful outcome on a voluntary basis since legislation can sometimes be a clumsy tool, particularly for selecting 1332 marine nature reserves. As regards the Menai Strait, consultations are taking place on the establishment of a marine nature reserve. There are outstanding objections to that proposal, particularly, I gather, from the yachtsmen. There may be a need eventually for a public inquiry.

§ Lord Mowbray and Stourton
My Lords, does the noble Earl remember that many years ago I answered Questions on the environment? When the noble Baroness, Lady Nicol, asked a question I answered at some length for the Government, to the extreme displeasure of my Chief Whip, the noble Lord, Lord Denham. I was told in no uncertain terms that I was to say that the Government were actively considering the matter and would shortly produce results. Is it not sad all these years later to find that we seem to be in the same old place?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, the situation has improved since then. We now have two designated statutory marine nature reserves and we are considering two further areas, in addition to which there are 16 voluntary sites. Therefore, I hope that my noble friend will agree that the situation has improved considerably since 1981.

§ Lord Williams of Elvel
My Lords, whether or not matters have improved, I do not know. Several Ministers have responded in much the same terms. Is it not the case that the yachtsmen have been objecting to the marine nature reserve in the Menai Strait certainly for the past two years, because I can remember asking a Question myself, and possibly for longer? Is it not also the case that the sub-aqua association objected for more than five years to the Skomer marine nature reserve and finally managed to give its agreement? Is not the problem one of government policy in that the Government require total unanimity of view before they designate a marine nature reserve when total unanimity of view is almost impossible to achieve?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, despite the objections of the yachtsmen and other people in the area, would not the noble Lord, Lord Williams, agree that unanimity of view on the establishment of marine nature reserves on a voluntary basis is the best way forward?

§ Lord Williams of Elvel
My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Earl for asking me that question, which I shall now proceed to answer. I had no idea that government Ministers asked questions of Opposition spokesmen, but I shall respond. I believe that it is right to attempt to achieve unanimity of view, but where that is not possible I believe that the Government have to take strong action and say to people who are holding out for no serious reason,"Come on. The time has come. We are going to designate this as a reserve". That is the Opposition's view.

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, I have heard and listened very carefully to what the noble Lord, Lord Williams, said. The Government's view is that there may come a time when we can go no further on a voluntary basis and may have to propose a statutory framework.

§ Lord Monkswell
My Lords, with regard to the proposals for the Menai Strait, will the Government advise the House of the date for the deadline for receipt of responses to the consultation? When will the public inquiry start?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, I have not said that there will be a public inquiry. I said that there may be a public inquiry.