§ Mr. HardyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to secure the sale of nationally owned nature reserves; which reserves may be sold during the next two years; and what evidence he has of public support for such disposal.
§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley[holding answer 25 May 1989]: The Nature Conservancy Council is reviewing policy for NNRs. In response to the council's preliminary report published on 3 May, the Government welcomed the suggestion of increased participation by the voluntary and private sectors in reserve ownership and management. We also recognised that there would be a need for some reserves to be held in the NCC's ownership, and assurances that the ownership and management of sites could only be transferred on condition that there continued to be adequate safeguards to ensure the conservation of their wildlife or geological interest. I understand that the council is planning to submit proposals later this year.
The majority of national nature reserves are already owned and managed for conservation by private landowners or voluntary bodies.