§ Mr. Allen McKayasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on granting permission for developments which, in the opinion of the Nature Conservancy Council, would cause significant damage to the scientific interest of an estuary which supports nationally or internationally important populations of wild birds.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe advice of the Nature Conservancy Council on the conservation implications of proposed development in estuaries of scientific interest is an important consideration which is taken into account with other appropriate factors, before decisions are reached.
§ Mr. Allen Mckayasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will inform the European Commission of the likely implications for bird conservation of development proposals currently relating to those British estuaries which have been designated or identified for designation as special protection areas under European Community Directive 79/409 on the conservation of wild birds.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI see no purpose in doing so.
§ Mr. Allen McKayasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make it a requirement that any application for planning permission relating to a river estuary which has been designated or identified for designation as a special protection area under European Community Directive 79/409 be accompanied by an environmental impact assessment.
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§ Mr. WaldegraveWe published proposals for the implementation of the EC directive on environmental assessment, so far as it applies to projects coming within planning control, in April 1986. The measures necessary to comply with the directive will be taken by 2 July 1988.
§ Mr. Allen McKayasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the relative importance of Britain's estuaries for international wild bird populations, and list the international conventions on this subject to which Her Majesty's Government adheres.
§ Mr. WaldegraveBritish estuaries provide a substantial proportion of the wintering grounds and staging posts for migratory breeding waterfowl of the Palearctic region. The United Kingdom is a party to the following relevant international conventions:
- —The convention of wetlands of international importance especially as waterfowl habitat (the Ramsar Convention).
- —The convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats (the Berne convention)
- —The convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals (the Bonn convention).
§ Mr. Allen McKayasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what statements he intends to make to the forthcoming conference of contracting parties to the convention on the conservation of wetlands of international importance at Regina, Canada, concerning threats to the importance of estuary sites in the United Kingdom which have been designated or identified for designation under the convention.
§ Mr. WaldegraveIn preparation for the Regina conference, the Government have submitted to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources a detailed report on the implementation of the Ramsar convention in Great Britain. This includes details of actual and potential changes to areas listed under the convention as wetlands of international importance — including some estuarial areas — and outlines the steps which have been or will be taken in response. I am arranging for copies of the report to be placed in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. Allen McKayasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will issue new guidance to local planning authorities on the importance to nature conservation of river estuaries and the need to protect such sites from damaging development.
§ Mr. WaldegraveWe have no plans to issue further specific advice on this subject. However, we shall shortly be issuing revised and updated advice to local authorities reaffirming the importance we attach to the conservation of the natural heritage generally, and outlining the part which local authorities can play in this process.