HC Deb 15 July 1992 vol 211 cc831-2W
Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to establish further marine biological sites of special scientific interest in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Maclean

There is no such designation and we have no plans to introduce one. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 July 1992 to my hon. Friend the Member for Kincardine and Deeside (Mr. Kynoch) at column252.

Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to ensure automatic public inquiries for all proposals affecting sites of special scientific interest where there is an outstanding objection from the statutory country conservation agency.

Mr. Maclean

No.

Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what penalties are currently employed by his Department for the damage or destruction of a site of special scientific interest; and if he has any plans to extend such penalties.

Mr. Maclean

English Nature is empowered to enforce the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in cases of damage to sites of special scientific interest. The levels of fines is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary, but there are no plans for changes.

Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current monitoring system utilised for sites of special scientific interest; how much is allocated for such monitoring by his Department; and what plans he has to upgrade such monitoring.

Mr. Maclean

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 11 June 1992,Official Report, column 260. During 1992–93 English Nature has budgeted to spend £18.1 million on the safeguarding of designated sites, including monitoring activities.

Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will establish a United Kingdom-wide system of positive incentives for sites of special scientific interest management.

Mr. Maclean

English Nature's wildlife enhancement scheme is a pilot project to assist owners and occupiers to undertake land management which is beneficial to the wildlife interests of SSSIs. English Nature will also be giving grants to county wildlife trusts under its reserves enhancement scheme for a similar purpose. These are important initiatives, but they will need to be evaluated before decisions are taken on whether they should be available more generally.

Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his practice to include specific references in environmental statements deposited under Standing Order 27A (environmental assessment) to each site of special scientific interest affected by works proposed in private Bills.

Sir George Young

The preparation and content of environmental statements deposited with private Bills under SO 27A is a matter for the promoters of the Bill, subject to the requirement that the statement shall generally contain, in relation to the works authorised by the Bill, the information set out in schedule 3 to the Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988. This includes information about the site and the likely effects of the proposed development on the environment by reference to its possible impact on flora, fauna, soil, water and the landscape. While there is no specific requirement for environmental statements to identify SSSIs likely to be affected by the development proposed, they are expected to do so.