§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he intends to take to safeguard limestone pavements, particularly in North Yorkshire and Cumbria, which provide the habitat of rare botanical species, from the danger of removal and use as decorative stone work.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe Nature Conservancy Council has carried out detailed surveys and evaluations of sites in North-West England. These provide a scientific basis for advising on conservation requirements, especially in connection with planning decisions on proposals for limestone winning. The NCC is safeguarding the most important sites through negotiations with owners and two national nature reserves representing this habitat have been declared recently; a third will be declared shortly.