§ Lord Melchettasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will state their policy towards agricultural grant applications for works on land notified as an SSSI, where the owner or occupier has either failed to consult the Nature Conservancy Council (NCC), or has ignored the advice of the NCC and has proceeded with an operation which has damaged or destroyed an SSSI.
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Lord Belstead)It is the Government's policy to implement Section 32 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, which requires agriculture Ministers not to pay grant on applications relating to an SSSI without first considering any objection which might be made by the NCC.