HC Deb 17 December 1993 vol 234 cc1090-1W
Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the United Kingdom biodiversity action plan will accord with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources guidelines for the preparation of biodiversity plans.

Mr. Yeo

We aim to publish the United Kingdom biodiversity action plan after the House returns in the new year. The plan will explain our strategy for conserving wildlife and habitats. Account has been taken of the IUCN guidelines for the preparation of biodiversity plans.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make the conservation of biodiversity an integral part of all Government policy and action.

Mr. Yeo

We aim to publish the United Kingdom biodiversity action plan after the House returns in the new year. The plan will explain our strategy for conserving wildlife and habitats including the role of Government policy.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the part to be played by the biodiversity action plan in helping to protect sites of special scientific interest and other important wildlife sites from neglect and destruction.

Mr. Yeo

We aim to publish the United Kingdom biodiversity action plan after the House returns in the new year. The plan will explain our strategy for conserving wildlife and habitats including protected areas.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those bodies that he has consulted in the last two months with regard to the preparation of the United Kingdom biodiversity action plan.

Mr. Yeo

We have consulted widely during the preparation of the plan. We received more than 1,000 pages of text from some 300 organisations on framework and content, and many of the views and ideas expressed have been incorporated as appropriate in parts of the plan. A two-day seminar organised by the Department of the Environment and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, held at the Royal Geographical Society in May, also assisted this process. A number of individuals and organisations outside Government have contributed to and commented on parts of the plan document. During the past two months, effort has concentrated on final drafting, design and printing rather than consultation.