§ Lord Melchettasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware that drainage works have been started on two further areas of exceptional wildlife interest in the Somerset Levels, King's Sedgemoor and Curry Moor, areas recognised by both the Nature Conservancy Council (NCC) and the Somerset County Council as being of sufficient importance to be designated SSSI's, and whether they will immediately instruct the NCC to apply for a Section 29 order under the Wildlife and Countryside Act to cover all the areas of SSSI quality on the Somerset Levels that are not yet notified as SSSI's.
§ Lord SkelmersdaleI am aware that some recent drainage work has taken place on King's Sedgemoor and Curry Moor in Somerset. I understand that Somerset County Council will be identifying certain areas as being of exceptional wildlife interest in their Somerset Levels and Moors Plans, which is due to be published this summer, and that a number of areas, including King's Sedgemoor, are also being considered by NCC for possible notification as Sites of Special Scientific Interest. It is for the NCC to advise us if they consider that orders under Section 29 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act are necessary for any area which meets the criteria laid down in the Act.