§ Lord Melchettasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they can confirm that Hares Down and Knowstone Moors Site of Special Scientific Interest is the largest area of diverse lowland heath land remaining in North Devon, whether they agree that it is likely to merit listing as a Nature Conservation Review Site, and whether they will state what scientific advice they have received from the Nature Conservancy Council about the scientific consequences of the North Devon Link Road crossing this site.
§ Lord SkelmersdaleWhen the Nature Conservancy Council scheduled Hares Down and Knowstone Moors as a Site of Special Scientific Interest they described it as one of the largest blocks of lowland heathland remaining in Devon with a wide diversity of plant communities which together support a rich flora containing rare and local species. Whether it is likely to merit listing as a Nature Conservation Review Site is also a matter for them. The Department of Transport has consulted the Nature Conservancy Council about the ecological effects of the North Devon Link Road on the site over a number of years and, on their advice, has incorporated measures in the proposed road scheme to minimise these effects.