§ Mr. LeslieTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Government will announce the submission of further areas to the European Commission as candidate special areas of conservation. [36013]
§ Mr. MeacherA further list of UK proposals has today been sent to the European Commission. This consists of 24 new candidate Special Areas of Conservation, boundary extensions to 13 existing sites already submitted to the Commission as candidate SACs and the addition of further qualifying interests on another 10 candidate SACs. This represents a significant step forward in the implementation of the Natura 2000 network in the UK.
Consideration continues to be given to the few remaining sites included in the two consultation exercises carried out in March 1995 and October 1997 which have not yet been submitted to the Commission. I hope to announce the submission of further sites in the near future.
The list of proposals sent to the Commission is as follows.
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New Sites Boundary changes to existing sites Changes to interest of existing sites (within existing boundary) England Lower Bostraze and Leswidden Isles of Scilly Complex Dartmoor Newlyn downs The Lizard Chesil and the Fleet Asby Complex South Devon Shore Dock Rooksmoor Roudsea Woods and Mosses River Ehen St. Albans Head to Durlston Head Norfolk Valley Fens Wast Water Border Mires (Kielder to Butterburn) Wasdale Screes Rook Clift Morecambe Bay Pavements Grimsthorpe Blean Complex Barnack Hills and Holes East Hampshire Hangers Devils Dyke North Northumberland Dunes
New sites Boundary changes to existing sites Changes to interest of existing sites (within existing boundary) Ellers Wood and Sand Dale Mole Gap to Reigate Escarpment Bollihope, Pikestone and Egglestone Fells Thursley, Ash, Pirbright and Chobham North Somerset and Mendip Bats Dungeness Mendip Woodlands River Itchen River Avon River Eden Exmoor Heaths Wales Glan-traeth Berwyn Eryri/Snowdonia Llyn Cwellyn Limestone Sea Cliffs of S.W. Wales/ Clogwyni Calchfaen De-orllewin Cymru Morfa Harlech a Morfa Dyffryn Preseli River Usk/Afon Wysg Northern Ireland Rathlin Island Garron Plateau Lough Melvin Largalinny A further announcement about sites in Scotland will follow shortly.