§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with other Departments about the impact of the EU habitats directive; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AtkinsMy Government colleagues and I are collectively committed to the transposition of the directive into United Kingdom law. The draft implementing regulations are to be laid shortly. Government policy for achieving the aims of the directive in the United Kingdom is set out in the biodiversity action plan, published in January of this year. This sets out our strategy for nature conservation over the next 10 and 20 years.