§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when a national list of sites will be sent to the European Commission under the habitats directive. [29856]
§ Mr. GummerFollowing extensive local and national public consultation launched on 31 March, a first list of 136 candidate special areas of conservation was sent today to the European Commission.
This list covers only sites on land and those that are already sites of special scientific interest. Consultation on possible marine sites will continue until 22 June.
I will announce the submission of a further tranche of sites to the Commission as soon as points raised in the consultation exercise have been fully considered and resolved.
A number of organisations have suggested additions to the list. These suggestions will be fully considered in accordance with the approach to site selection applied to the current list of possible sites and outlined in section 3 of "A list of possible Special Areas of Conservation in the UK" which was published on 31 March and placed in the Libraries. If the nature conservation agencies, through the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, advise that any of these additions qualify as possible SACs they will be published for consultation in due course. As indicated in my written reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on 31 March at column 834, there will also be consultation on those sites proposed for certain habitats types and species where it is necessary first to complete further SSSI notifications or on which additional scientific information is being sought.
141WThe list of sites which has been sent to the Commission is as follows:
142W
Sites Country Amat Woods Scotland Ardmeanach Scotland Ballynahone Bog Northern Ireland Barry Links Scotland Beer Quarry and Caves England Benacre to Easter Bavents Lagoons England Berwyn Wales Birklands and BIlhaugh England Black Bog Northern Ireland Black Wood of Rannoch Scotland Balwhorn Moss Scotland Blean Complex England Borrowdale Woodland Complex England Braehead Moss Scotland Bredon Hill England Burry Inlet: Dunes/Cilfach Burry:Twyni Wales Cannock Extension Canal England Carrine Common England Castle Eden Dene England Castle Hill England Chilmark Quarries England Chilterns Beechwoods England Cockinhead Moss Scotland Coed y Cerrig Wales Coedydd a Cheunant Rheidol/Rheidol Woods Wales Coedydd Derw Meirion/Merionnydd Oakwoods Wales Coleg Glynllifon Wales Cors Caron Wales Cors Fochno Wales Corsydd Mon/Anglesea Fens Wales Cothill Fen England Craigengar Scotland Cranley Moss Scotland Creag nan Gamhainn Scotland Crymlyn Bog/Cors Crymlyn Wales Cuilcagh Mountain Northern Ireland Culbin Bar Scotland Culm Grasslands England Cym Cadlan Wales Derryleckagh Northern Ireland Drostre Bank Wales East Hampshire Hangers England Eastern Mournes Northern Ireland Ebernoe Common England Eilean na Muice Duibhe Scotland Elenydd Wales Eryri/Snowdonia Wales Fairy Water Bogs Northern Ireland Fenland England Feur Lochain Scotland Flow of Dergoals Scotland Gang Mine England Garron Plateau Northern Ireland Garry Bog Northern Ireland Glac na Criche Scotland Glannau Mon: Cors heli/Anglesea Coast: Saltmarsh Wales Glannau Mon: Twyni/Anglesea Coast: Dunes Wales Glanau Ynys Gybi/Holy Island Coast Wales Glen Coe Scotland Godrevey Head to St. Agnes England Great Orme's Head/Pen y Gogarth Wales Great Yews England Hascosay Scotland Helvellyn and Fairfield England 143W
Sites Country Hill of Towanreef Scotland Holme Moor and Clean Moor England Hoy Scotland Inchnadamph Scotland Invernaver Scotland Isle of Wight Downs England Keen of Hamar Scotland Kenfig/Cynffig Wales Kilhern Moss Scotland Kingley Vale England Kirkcowan Flow Scotland Lewes Downs England Limestone seacliffs of S W Wales/Clogwyni Calchfaen De-Orllewin Cymru Wales Lismore Lochs Scotland Llangorse Lake/Llyn Syfaddan Wales Loch Watten Scotland Lydden and Temple Ewell Downs England Magheraveely Marl Loughs Northern Ireland Merrick Kells Scotland Minsmere to Walberswick Heaths and Marshes England Mochrum Lochs Scotland Monadh Mor Scotland Monawilkin Northern Ireland Moniack Gorge Scotland Morrone Birkwood Scotland Mound Alderwoods Scotland Newham Fen England Norfolk Valley Fens England North Northumberland Dunes England North Pennine Dales Meadows England Oak Mere England Oldshoremore and Sandwood Scotland Oxford Meadows England Pasturefields Salt Marsh England Pembrokeshire bat sites/Safleoedd Ystlumod Penfro Wales Pettigoe Plateau Northern Ireland Pewsey Downs England Pitmaduthy Moss Scotland Prescombe Down England Preseli Wales Queendown Warren England Reidside Moss Scotland Rex Graham-Reserve England Rhinog Wales Rhos Goch Wales Rhos Llawr-cwrt Wales Rooksmoor England Rum Scotland Slieve Beagh Northern Ireland St. David's/Ty Ddewi Wales Staverton Park and the Thicks, Wantisden England Strath Scotland Stromness Heaths and Coast Scotland Tanat and Vyrnwy Bat Sites/Safleoedd Ystlumod Tanat ac Efyrnwy Wales Taynish Woods Scotland Teal Lough Northern Ireland The Mens England The New Forest England The Stipperstones and the Hollies England Thorne Moor England Thrislington England Tingon Scotland Tregonning Hill England Trotternish Ridge Scotland Tulach Hill and Glen Fender Meadows Scotland Tyne and Allen River Gravels England Upper Lough Erne Northern Ireland
Sites Country Wasdale Screes England West Midlands Mosses England Whitlaw and Branxholme Scotland Windsor Forest and Great Park England Wye and Crundale Downs England