§ 36. Dr. SpinkTo ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners in what circumstances it is the commissioners' practice to withdraw land known to be of high conservation value from public auction and negotiate direct with a prospective purchaser.
§ Mr. AlisonThe commissioners' obligations to their beneficiaries require them to test the market properly when disposing of any land and to consider the best method of disposal in the circumstances. In the case of land subject to an SSSI designation which is of high conservation value, the commissioners operate an informal early warning system with English Nature. This is to allow local nature conservation bodies a reasonable time to raise funds so that they may be in a position to submit an offer when the land is put on the market.