§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps the Government have taken to ensure the favourable conservation status of special areas of conservation. [92797]
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§ Mr. MealeThe Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 transpose the requirements of the EC Habitats Directive in England, Scotland and Wales. The Directive requires that member states should nominate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) which are the best areas to represent the range and variety of the habitats and species identified by the Directive.
The Government have recently announced that a virtually complete list of 340 wildlife sites nominated for special protection as candidate SACs under the Habitats Directive has been submitted to the European Commission.
It is a matter of Government policy that the Regulations should be applied to candidate sites as if the sites were already designated, and they are given the full protection of the Regulations to ensure their favourable condition. These sites are given the highest priority for conservation action by the nature conservation agencies.